In the week ending July 1, there were 1,795 deaths in the state. 25% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20% were from cancer and 1.9% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7.6% 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.
Michigan top 10 causes of death in week ending July 1
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 448 | 25 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 359 | 20 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 120 | 6.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 85 | 4.7 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 76 | 4.2 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 54 | 3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 42 | 2.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 25 | 1.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 15 | 0.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 10 | 0.6 |
Michigan Dementia deaths in week ending July 1
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 137 | 7.6 |
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