In the week ending Nov. 12, there were 992 deaths in the state. 17.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23.1% were from cancer and 10.8% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 12.4% 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.
Minnesota top 10 causes of death in week ending Nov. 12
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 229 | 23.1 |
| Heart disease | 178 | 17.9 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 64 | 6.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 46 | 4.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 43 | 4.3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 40 | 4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 39 | 3.9 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 24 | 2.4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 10 | 1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1 |
Minnesota Dementia deaths in week ending Nov. 12
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 123 | 12.4 |
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