In the week ending Dec. 17, there were 1,454 deaths in the state. 21.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.5% were from cancer and 7.8% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 13.5% 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 Dec. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 312 | 21.5 |
| Heart disease | 309 | 21.3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 69 | 4.7 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 64 | 4.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 64 | 4.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 61 | 4.2 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 56 | 3.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 49 | 3.4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 37 | 2.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 31 | 2.1 |
Virginia Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 197 | 13.5 |
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