There were 25 deaths from Alzheimer’s disease reported in Iowa in the week ending Sept. 24, making up 6.4% of total deaths by all causes in Iowa, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Sept. 24, there were 392 deaths in the state. 24.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.2% were from cancer and 3.6% 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 | 96 | 24.5 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 87 | 22.2 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 25 | 6.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 25 | 6.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 16 | 4.1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 14 | 3.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 11 | 2.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 2.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 2.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 2.6 |
