In the week ending Dec. 24, there were 508 deaths in the state. 23.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.9% were from cancer and 7.1% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 11.2% 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.
West Virginia top 10 causes of death in week ending Dec. 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 120 | 23.6 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 96 | 18.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 38 | 7.5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 24 | 4.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 20 | 3.9 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 16 | 3.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 16 | 3.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 16 | 3.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 14 | 2.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 12 | 2.4 |
West Virginia Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 57 | 11.2 |
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