In the week ending Dec. 24, there were 552 deaths in the state. 25.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.5% were from cancer and 5.8% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.8% 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 Dec. 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 143 | 25.9 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 113 | 20.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 43 | 7.8 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 25 | 4.5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 25 | 4.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 24 | 4.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 18 | 3.3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 14 | 2.5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 14 | 2.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 10 | 1.8 |
Mississippi Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 54 | 9.8 |
Alerts Sign-up