In the week ending Sept. 24, there were 2,564 deaths in the state. 20.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.5% were from cancer and 5.9% 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 Sept. 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 576 | 22.5 |
| Heart disease | 520 | 20.3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 145 | 5.7 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 135 | 5.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 123 | 4.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 90 | 3.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 73 | 2.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 60 | 2.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 56 | 2.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 29 | 1.1 |
