In the week ending Sept. 17, 2022, there were 601 deaths in the state. 24% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18% were from cancer and 12.3% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.3% 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 | Deaths in Week Ending Sept. 17, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Sept. 10, 2022 |
---|---|---|
Heart disease | 144 | 165 |
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 108 | 98 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 46 | 32 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 35 | 35 |
Alzheimer's disease | 31 | 38 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 31 | 28 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 28 | 27 |
Influenza and pneumonia | 16 | 14 |
Diabetes mellitus | 14 | 31 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | 14 |
Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Sept. 17, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Sept. 10, 2022 |
---|---|---|
Alzheimer disease and dementia | 50 | 53 |