There were less than 10 deaths with Alzheimer’s disease listed as the underlying cause reported in South Dakota during the week ending December 11, a decrease from the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending December 11, there were 183 deaths in the state. 15.3 percent of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.7 percent were from cancer and 26.8 percent were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.2 percent 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.
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths 2021-12-11 | Number of Deaths 2021-12-04 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 36 | 40 |
| Heart disease | 28 | 29 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 25 | 33 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 24 | 30 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | 10 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | < 10 | 10 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | < 10 | < 10 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | < 10 | < 10 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths 2021-12-11 | Number of Deaths 2021-12-04 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 15 | 17 |
