In the week ending Dec. 3, there were 402 deaths in the state. 18.2% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 16.7% were from cancer and 11.2% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 11.7% 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.
New Mexico top 10 causes of death in week ending Dec. 3
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 73 | 18.2 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 67 | 16.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 25 | 6.2 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 24 | 6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 20 | 5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 18 | 4.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 16 | 4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 12 | 3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 2.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | < 2.5 |
New Mexico Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 3
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 47 | 11.7 |
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