In the week ending November 20, there were 641 deaths in the state. 23.7 percent of deaths were caused by heart disease, 16.7 percent were from cancer and 8 percent were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.7 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 2021-11-20 | Number of Deaths 2021-11-13 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 152 | 171 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 107 | 126 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 44 | 32 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 36 | 23 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 32 | 34 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 30 | 38 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 28 | 28 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 21 | 31 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 18 | 11 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 13 | 13 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths 2021-11-20 | Number of Deaths 2021-11-13 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 56 | 54 |
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