There were 19 deaths with Alzheimer’s disease listed as the underlying cause reported in Idaho during the week ending Oct. 29, 2022, a 5.6% increase over the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Oct. 29, 2022, there were 329 deaths in the state. 21.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.8% were from cancer and less than 3% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 11.2% 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.
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 29, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 22, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 71 | 70 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 65 | 56 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 24 | 24 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 19 | 18 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 10 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | < 10 | 14 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 10 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | 13 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 29, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Oct. 22, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 37 | 36 |
