In the week ending Nov. 5, there were 1,510 deaths in the state. 18.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.5% were from cancer and 5.5% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 13.1% 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.
Virginia top 10 causes of death in week ending Nov. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 309 | 20.5 |
| Heart disease | 281 | 18.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 85 | 5.6 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 56 | 3.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 55 | 3.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 52 | 3.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 49 | 3.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 31 | 2.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 24 | 1.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 18 | 1.2 |
Virginia Dementia deaths in week ending Nov. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 198 | 13.1 |
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