In the week ending Sept. 17, there were 1,411 deaths in the state. 24.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23.5% were from cancer and 8.6% 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 Sept. 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 344 | 24.4 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 331 | 23.5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 94 | 6.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 73 | 5.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 70 | 5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 55 | 3.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 48 | 3.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 34 | 2.4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 31 | 2.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 11 | 0.8 |
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