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Thursday, November 21, 2024

15 people die in North Carolina from Alzheimer's disease in week ending May 8

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There were 15 deaths with Alzheimer's disease listed as the underlying cause reported in North Carolina during the week ending May 8, a 25 percent increase over the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In the week ending May 8, there were 420 deaths in the state. 11 percent of deaths were caused by heart disease, 16.9 percent were from cancer and 39.5 percent were from COVID-19. Additionally, 6.7 percent 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.

North Carolina top 10 causes of death in week ending May 8

Cause of DeathNumber of Deaths 2021-05-08Number of Deaths 2021-05-01
COVID-19 (multiple cause)8685
COVID-19 (underlying cause)8071
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor)7159
Heart disease4660
Cerebrovascular diseases2018
Alzheimer's disease1512
Influenza and pneumonia< 100
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis< 10< 10
Diabetes mellitus< 1010
Chronic lower respiratory diseases< 10< 10

North Carolina Dementia deaths in week ending May 8
Cause of DeathNumber of Deaths 2021-05-08Number of Deaths 2021-05-01
Alzheimer disease and dementia2827

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