There were less than 10 deaths with Alzheimer’s disease listed as the underlying cause reported in Idaho during the week ending June 24, a decrease from the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending June 24, there were 324 deaths in the state. 17.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.1% were from cancer and less than 3.1% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.3% 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 June 24 | Deaths in Week Ending June 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 62 | 64 |
| Heart disease | 58 | 74 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 18 | 15 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 16 | 15 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 11 | < 10 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | < 10 | 12 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 10 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 10 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending June 24 | Deaths in Week Ending June 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 30 | 30 |
