In the week ending Nov. 12, there were 1,297 deaths in the state. 22.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.2% were from cancer and 7.5% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.9% 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. 12
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 292 | 22.5 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 262 | 20.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 81 | 6.2 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 66 | 5.1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 53 | 4.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 49 | 3.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 44 | 3.4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 35 | 2.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 18 | 1.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 17 | 1.3 |
Indiana Dementia deaths in week ending Nov. 12
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 129 | 9.9 |
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