In the week ending July 1, there were 4,293 deaths in the state. 20.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.1% were from cancer and 1% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.8% 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 July 1
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 894 | 20.8 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 821 | 19.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 226 | 5.3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 194 | 4.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 169 | 3.9 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 127 | 3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 94 | 2.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 45 | 1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 26 | 0.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 17 | 0.4 |
Texas Dementia deaths in week ending July 1
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 422 | 9.8 |
