There were less than 10 deaths with Alzheimer’s disease listed as the underlying cause reported in West Virginia during the week ending Aug. 6, 2022, a decrease from the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Aug. 6, 2022, there were 450 deaths in the state. 20.2% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 17.6% were from cancer and 9.6% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.6% 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 Aug. 6, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending July 30, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 91 | 82 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 79 | 98 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 29 | 25 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 27 | 33 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 21 | 15 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 19 | 16 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 16 | < 10 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 16 | 23 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | < 10 | 13 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Aug. 6, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending July 30, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 43 | 35 |
