In the week ending July 15, there were 4,172 deaths in the state. 19.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.7% were from cancer and 0.9% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.7% 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 15
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 820 | 19.7 |
| Heart disease | 797 | 19.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 188 | 4.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 181 | 4.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 163 | 3.9 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 154 | 3.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 66 | 1.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 43 | 1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 25 | 0.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 14 | 0.3 |
Texas Dementia deaths in week ending July 15
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 447 | 10.7 |
