In the week ending July 3, there were 1,400 deaths in the state. 18.7 percent of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.1 percent were from cancer and 3 percent were from COVID-19. Additionally, 11.1 percent 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 2021-07-03 | Number of Deaths 2021-06-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 282 | 284 |
| Heart disease | 262 | 257 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 72 | 80 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 62 | 43 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 53 | 45 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 37 | 45 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 31 | 24 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 23 | 14 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 23 | 32 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 19 | 28 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths 2021-07-03 | Number of Deaths 2021-06-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 156 | 131 |
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