There were less than 10 deaths with Alzheimer’s disease listed as the underlying cause reported in South Dakota during the week ending May 22, 2021, a decrease from the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending May 22, 2021, there were 145 deaths in the state. 19.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 15.9% were from cancer and less than 6.9% were from COVID-19.
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 | Deaths in Week Ending May 22, 2021 | Deaths in Week Ending May 15, 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 28 | 24 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 23 | 30 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 11 | < 10 |
| 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 | 12 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 10 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 10 |
