Dementia Deaths Rise During the Summer of COVID

Exact cause of increased mortality unclear, but worsened isolation a factor, says geriatrician

Both dementia patients and their caregivers are facing increased stress and loneliness as COVID drags on. Inside Creative House/Shutterstock

Deaths from dementia during the summer of 2020 were nearly 20 percent higher than the number of dementia-related deaths during that time in previous years, and experts don’t yet know why.

An estimated 61,000 people died from dementia, which is 11,000 more than usual.