In the week ending Aug. 6, there were 1,492 deaths in the state. 26.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.9% were from cancer and 6.8% 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 Aug. 6
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 397 | 26.6 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 327 | 21.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 89 | 6 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 83 | 5.6 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 74 | 5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 64 | 4.3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 37 | 2.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 34 | 2.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 29 | 1.9 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 21 | 1.4 |
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