There were less than 10 deaths with Alzheimer’s disease listed as the underlying cause reported in West Virginia during the week ending April 23, 2022, a decrease from the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending April 23, 2022, there were 260 deaths in the state. 21.2% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.3% were from cancer and less than 3.8% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.8% of deaths were from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Studies show doctors and medical examiners may underreport Alzheimer’s disease and dementia-related conditions as the underlying cause of death on death certificates, according to the National Institute on Aging.
Once infected, older adults with dementia are likely to develop a more severe and dangerous illness. The diseases which make an older adult more vulnerable to COVID-19 are age-associated chronic conditions, according to the Bright Focus Foundation.
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending April 23, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending April 16, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 58 | 76 |
| Heart disease | 55 | 71 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 22 | 21 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 12 | 15 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | 13 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | < 10 | 12 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 10 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | 11 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending April 23, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending April 16, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 23 | 36 |
