There were less than 10 deaths from Alzheimer’s disease reported in South Dakota in the week ending Aug. 27, making up less than 52.6% of total deaths by all causes in South Dakota, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending Aug. 27, there were 19 deaths in the state. Less than 52.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease and less than 52.6% were from cancer
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.
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer’s disease | < 10 | < 52.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | < 10 | < 52.6 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | < 10 | < 52.6 |
| Heart disease | < 10 | < 52.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 0 | 0 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 0 | 0 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 0 | 0 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 0 | 0 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 0 | 0 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 0 | 0 |
