In the week ending Aug. 5, there were 3,796 deaths in the state. 20.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.6% were from cancer and 2.2% 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 Aug. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 781 | 20.6 |
| Heart disease | 775 | 20.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 214 | 5.6 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 189 | 5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 162 | 4.3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 92 | 2.4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 71 | 1.9 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 47 | 1.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 39 | 1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 38 | 1 |
Texas Dementia deaths in week ending Aug. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 372 | 9.8 |
