In the week ending Nov. 5, there were 1,337 deaths in the state. 22.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.4% were from cancer and 7.5% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10% 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.
Indiana top 10 causes of death in week ending Nov. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 295 | 22.1 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 260 | 19.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 103 | 7.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 63 | 4.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 59 | 4.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 44 | 3.3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 42 | 3.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 41 | 3.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 23 | 1.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 15 | 1.1 |
Indiana Dementia deaths in week ending Nov. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 134 | 10 |
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