In the week ending Aug. 6, there were 2,494 deaths in the state. 19.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.6% were from cancer and 13% were from COVID-19.
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.
Texas top 10 causes of death in week ending Aug. 6
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 515 | 20.6 |
| Heart disease | 492 | 19.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 185 | 7.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 155 | 6.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 138 | 5.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 116 | 4.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 102 | 4.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 72 | 2.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 56 | 2.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 19 | 0.8 |
