In the week ending Nov. 12, there were 4,327 deaths in the state. 22.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.8% were from cancer and 3.2% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.3% of deaths were from Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
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 Nov. 12
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 957 | 22.1 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 857 | 19.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 228 | 5.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 177 | 4.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 173 | 4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 134 | 3.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 105 | 2.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 81 | 1.9 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 73 | 1.7 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 58 | 1.3 |
Texas Dementia deaths in week ending Nov. 12
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 403 | 9.3 |
