Aloha State News

There were 10 deaths from Alzheimer's disease reported in Hawaii in the week ending August 7, making up 4.7 percent of total deaths by all causes in Hawaii, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In the week ending August 7, there were 215 deaths in the state. 20.9 percent of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.3 percent were from cancer and 14.9 percent were from COVID-19. Additionally, 12.6 percent 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	Cause of Death	% of Total Deaths
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor)	48	22.3
Heart disease	45	20.9
COVID-19 (multiple cause)	17	7.9
COVID-19 (underlying cause)	15	7
Cerebrovascular diseases	13	6
Alzheimer's disease	10	4.7
Influenza and pneumonia	< 10	< 4.7
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis	< 10	< 4.7
Diabetes mellitus	< 10	< 4.7
Chronic lower respiratory diseases	< 10	< 4.7

Cause of Death	Cause of Death	% of Total Deaths
Alzheimer disease and dementia	27	12.6