There were 50 deaths from cerebrovascular diseases reported in Minnesota in the week ending July 22, making up 6.2% of total deaths by all causes in Minnesota, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending July 22, there were 808 deaths in the state. 18.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23.6% were from cancer and 1.4% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 11.1% 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.
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 191 | 23.6 |
| Heart disease | 149 | 18.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 50 | 6.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 39 | 4.8 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 32 | 4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 24 | 3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 12 | 1.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 11 | 1.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 1.2 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 90 | 11.1 |
