In the week ending July 3, there were 596 deaths in the state. 25.3 percent of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.3 percent were from cancer and 3 percent were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7.2 percent 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 2021-07-03 | Number of Deaths 2021-06-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 151 | 156 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 127 | 130 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 36 | 26 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 35 | 30 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 30 | 29 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 19 | 18 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 18 | 18 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 13 | 10 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | 17 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | 11 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths 2021-07-03 | Number of Deaths 2021-06-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 43 | 48 |
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