In the week ending March 5, there were 516 deaths in the state. 20.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 16.9% were from cancer and 25% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7.8% 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.
Mississippi top 10 causes of death in week ending March 5
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending March 5 | Deaths in Week Ending Feb. 26 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 107 | 134 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 87 | 104 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 72 | 96 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 57 | 75 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 42 | 42 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 27 | 17 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 26 | 32 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 25 | 29 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 14 | 18 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | 17 |
Mississippi Dementia deaths in week ending March 5
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending March 5 | Deaths in Week Ending Feb. 26 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 40 | 54 |
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