In the week ending Aug. 6, there were 495 deaths in the state. 23% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.2% were from cancer and 12.1% were from COVID-19.
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 Aug. 6
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 114 | 23 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 100 | 20.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 45 | 9.1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 36 | 7.3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 31 | 6.3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 27 | 5.5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 24 | 4.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 18 | 3.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 18 | 3.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 10 | 2 |
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