In the week ending June 17, there were 803 deaths in the state. 26.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.8% were from cancer and less than 1.2% 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.
Louisiana top 10 causes of death in week ending June 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 211 | 26.3 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 175 | 21.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 40 | 5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 37 | 4.6 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 32 | 4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 31 | 3.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 19 | 2.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 1.2 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 1.2 |
Louisiana Dementia deaths in week ending June 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 77 | 9.6 |
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