There were 22 deaths from Alzheimer’s disease reported in Iowa in the week ending Sept. 17, making up 5.6% of total deaths by all causes in Iowa, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Sept. 17, there were 394 deaths in the state. 24.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.8% were from cancer and 9.1% were from COVID-19.
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 | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 98 | 24.9 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 86 | 21.8 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 22 | 5.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 20 | 5.1 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 19 | 4.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 16 | 4.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 12 | 3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 11 | 2.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 2.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 2.5 |
