In the week ending July 23, there were 1,409 deaths in the state. 24.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23.8% were from cancer and 5.4% were from COVID-19.
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.
Michigan top 10 causes of death in week ending July 23
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 343 | 24.3 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 336 | 23.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 80 | 5.7 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 75 | 5.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 67 | 4.8 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 49 | 3.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 46 | 3.3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 30 | 2.1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 22 | 1.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 21 | 1.5 |
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