In the week ending Aug. 27, there were 1,448 deaths in the state. 27% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.2% were from cancer and 7% 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. 27
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 391 | 27 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 321 | 22.2 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 80 | 5.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 63 | 4.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 63 | 4.4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 61 | 4.2 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 54 | 3.7 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 39 | 2.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 22 | 1.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 15 | 1 |
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