Green Mountain Times

There were 38 deaths from cancer reported in Vermont in the week ending May 15, 2021, making up 29.9% of total deaths by all causes in Vermont, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In the week ending May 15, 2021, there were 127 deaths in the state. 17.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 29.9% were from cancer and less than 7.9% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.4% 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.

Cause of Death	Number of Deaths	% of Total Deaths
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor)	38	29.9
Heart disease	22	17.3
Diabetes mellitus	< 10	< 7.9
Alzheimer's disease	< 10	< 7.9
Chronic lower respiratory diseases	< 10	< 7.9
Cerebrovascular diseases	< 10	< 7.9
COVID-19 (underlying cause)	< 10	< 7.9
COVID-19 (multiple cause)	< 10	< 7.9
Influenza and pneumonia	0	0
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis	0	0

Cause of Death	Number of Deaths	% of Total Deaths
Alzheimer disease and dementia	12	9.4