In the week ending Dec. 24, there were 3,404 deaths in the state. 22.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.7% were from cancer and 7.5% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 14.9% 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.
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Heart disease | 766 | 22.5 |
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 671 | 19.7 |
Alzheimer's disease | 197 | 5.8 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 179 | 5.3 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 158 | 4.6 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 143 | 4.2 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 112 | 3.3 |
Diabetes mellitus | 101 | 3 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 69 | 2 |
Influenza and pneumonia | 65 | 1.9 |
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Alzheimer disease and dementia | 506 | 14.9 |