In the week ending Dec. 24, there were 578 deaths in the state. 20.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.9% were from cancer and 5.5% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 20.1% 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.
Oregon top 10 causes of death in week ending Dec. 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 121 | 20.9 |
| Heart disease | 121 | 20.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 39 | 6.7 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 38 | 6.6 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 29 | 5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 22 | 3.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 14 | 2.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 12 | 2.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 10 | 1.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 1.7 |
Oregon Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 116 | 20.1 |
Alerts Sign-up