In the week ending Dec. 17, there were 1,030 deaths in the state. 24.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.9% were from cancer and 6.1% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 18.6% 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 |
---|---|---|
Heart disease | 251 | 24.4 |
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 226 | 21.9 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 52 | 5 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 52 | 5 |
Alzheimer's disease | 44 | 4.3 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 42 | 4.1 |
Diabetes mellitus | 33 | 3.2 |
Influenza and pneumonia | 22 | 2.1 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 21 | 2 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 20 | 1.9 |
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Alzheimer disease and dementia | 192 | 18.6 |