In the week ending June 19, 2021, there were 1,597 deaths in the state. 20% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20% were from cancer and 4.9% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.1% 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 |
---|---|---|
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 320 | 20 |
Heart disease | 319 | 20 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 98 | 6.1 |
Alzheimer's disease | 88 | 5.5 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 75 | 4.7 |
Diabetes mellitus | 44 | 2.8 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 42 | 2.6 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 42 | 2.6 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 37 | 2.3 |
Influenza and pneumonia | 20 | 1.3 |
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Alzheimer disease and dementia | 161 | 10.1 |