In the week ending Dec. 3, there were 974 deaths in the state. 18.2% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.3% were from cancer and 7.8% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 15.1% 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 | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 198 | 20.3 |
Heart disease | 177 | 18.2 |
Alzheimer's disease | 68 | 7 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 49 | 5 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 42 | 4.3 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 40 | 4.1 |
Diabetes mellitus | 34 | 3.5 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 27 | 2.8 |
Influenza and pneumonia | 23 | 2.4 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 10 | 1 |
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Alzheimer disease and dementia | 147 | 15.1 |