There were 10 deaths with Alzheimer’s disease listed as the underlying cause reported in New Mexico during the week ending March 12, a 9.1% decrease from the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending March 12, there were 237 deaths in the state. 14.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 17.3% were from cancer and 14.8% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 11.4% 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 March 12 | Deaths in Week Ending March 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 41 | 54 |
| Heart disease | 35 | 57 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 18 | 32 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 17 | 18 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 17 | 28 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 10 | 11 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 10 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | < 10 | 11 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending March 12 | Deaths in Week Ending March 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 27 | 23 |
