The Alzheimer’s Association Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report was released this month. In addition to confirming that Alzheimer’s continues to be a burden on individuals and families, the report also looks at the devastating impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having of people living with Alzheimer’s.
According to the report, there were at least 42,000 more deaths from Alzheimer’s and other dementias in 2020 compared to averages over the previous five years — a 16% increase. In Kansas, there were 519 more deaths than expected from dementia in 2020 than compared to averages over the past five years — a 19.5% increase.
While more study is needed to understand the exact reasons for this increase, we do know that individuals living with Alzheimer’s, particularly those living in long-term care settings, are extremely vulnerable to COVID-19.
These individuals are older, live in communal settings and often have underlying chronic conditions putting them at higher risk for the virus and individuals who contract COVID-19 in these settings are at greater risk of dying.
Other factors that could be driving the increase in excess deaths include:
- Some deaths due to Alzheimer’s may actually be deaths due to COVID-19.
- Lack of testing, particularly in the early stages of the pandemic, means some cases of COVID-19 were never diagnosed or reported, thus not listed on the death certificate.
In addition, pandemic-related challenges may have accelerated disease-related decline and deaths, including:
- Reduced access to physicians and healthcare during the pandemic;
- Greater difficulty in managing comorbid conditions;
- Disruption of steady routines and close care provided by family members and other caregivers;
- Adverse impact of social isolation.
The Alzheimer’s Association continues to push to ensure frontline health workers and those living and working in long-term care have access to the COVID-19 vaccine. The Association also believes vaccines are an important step in protecting the health and safety of long-term care residents and staff, and strongly encourages their use.
Vaccinating residents and staff in these settings is a critical first step to allowing residents to reunite with their families after months of separation, often accelerating decline of those with dementia. Once high-risk loved ones and family members are vaccinated, caregivers not yet eligible for vaccination can follow other protocols including PPE, rapid point of care testing and other safety measures to ensure a safe and secure environment for visitation.
The Alzheimer’s Association free 24/7 Helpline is 800.272.3900.
