In the week ending Nov. 12, there were 856 deaths in the state. 25.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22% were from cancer and 1.3% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.9% 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.
Louisiana top 10 causes of death in week ending Nov. 12
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 217 | 25.4 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 188 | 22 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 43 | 5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 42 | 4.9 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 38 | 4.4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 23 | 2.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 23 | 2.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 15 | 1.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 11 | 1.3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 1.2 |
Louisiana Dementia deaths in week ending Nov. 12
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 85 | 9.9 |
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