There were 12 deaths with Alzheimer’s disease listed as the underlying cause reported in Connecticut during the week ending June 17, a 14.3% decrease from the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending June 17, there were 559 deaths in the state. 21.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease and 20% were from cancer Additionally, 10% 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 | Deaths in Week Ending June 17 | Deaths in Week Ending June 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 121 | 122 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 112 | 127 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 25 | 21 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 25 | 25 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 17 | 10 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 12 | 14 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | 15 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | 16 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 10 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 0 | < 10 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending June 17 | Deaths in Week Ending June 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 56 | 51 |
