Dr. Brian Callaghan was part of a study that looked at the toll COVID-19 is taking on the burden of neurological deaths. The study analyzed deaths and their various causes in New York City.
Ordinarily, New York City experiences approximately 1,000 natural deaths per week. However, during the period from mid-March to end of May, during the height of COVID-19 in New York City, the study recorded an average of 3,250 deaths per week, of which only 1,580 per week listed COVID-19 as the cause of death. Accounting for the baseline of 1,000 weekly deaths, this left 1,670 ‘excess’ or ‘extra’ deaths per week during that time period in New York City. Within these extra “non-COVID excess deaths,” the study looked at neurological deaths, cerebrovascular and Alzheimer's disease. Cerebrovascular deaths, like stroke, increased by 11.8% compared to baseline levels. Meanwhile, Alzheimer’s disease deaths increased by 38.9%. The authors of the study concluded that these neurological deaths may have been due to undiagnosed COVID-19. Alternatively, they indicate that lack of access to healthcare during that period may have increased neurological deaths.