In the week ending July 8, there were 4,167 deaths in the state. 21% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.2% were from cancer and 0.4% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.5% 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 8
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 876 | 21 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 843 | 20.2 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 244 | 5.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 181 | 4.3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 155 | 3.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 128 | 3.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 84 | 2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 49 | 1.2 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 16 | 0.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 0.2 |
Texas Dementia deaths in week ending July 8
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 394 | 9.5 |
