There were 24 deaths with cerebrovascular disease listed as the underlying cause reported in New Mexico during the week ending June 24, a 60% increase over the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending June 24, there were 397 deaths in the state. 18.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 16.6% were from cancer and less than 2.5% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 6.5% 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 24 | Deaths in Week Ending June 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 74 | 79 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 66 | 68 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 24 | 15 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 13 | 11 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 12 | 19 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 11 | 12 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 10 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 10 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending June 24 | Deaths in Week Ending June 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 26 | 34 |
