In the week ending Dec. 24, there were 683 deaths in the state. 23% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.2% were from cancer and 9.1% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 15.2% 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.
Kentucky top 10 causes of death in week ending Dec. 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 157 | 23 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 138 | 20.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 50 | 7.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 42 | 6.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 35 | 5.1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 25 | 3.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 21 | 3.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 20 | 2.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 20 | 2.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 12 | 1.8 |
Kentucky Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 104 | 15.2 |
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