There were 22 deaths with Alzheimer’s disease listed as the underlying cause reported in New Mexico during the week ending May 14, 2022, a 46.7% increase over the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending May 14, 2022, there were 265 deaths in the state. 18.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 17.4% were from cancer and less than 3.8% 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 14, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending May 7, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 48 | 44 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 46 | 50 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 22 | 15 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 17 | 25 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 17 | 20 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | 12 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 10 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 10 |
