In the week ending Nov. 5, there were 654 deaths in the state. 23.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.3% were from cancer and 5.8% 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 Nov. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 155 | 23.7 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 126 | 19.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 50 | 7.6 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 35 | 5.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 34 | 5.2 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 25 | 3.8 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 22 | 3.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 18 | 2.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 18 | 2.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 13 | 2 |
Mississippi Dementia deaths in week ending Nov. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 51 | 7.8 |
Alerts Sign-up