In the week ending July 31, there were 786 deaths in the state. 17 percent of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.6 percent were from cancer and 7 percent were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.7 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 2021-07-31 | Number of Deaths 2021-07-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 154 | 172 |
| Heart disease | 134 | 152 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 40 | 44 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 37 | 33 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 33 | 33 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 30 | 22 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 28 | 31 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 25 | 19 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths 2021-07-31 | Number of Deaths 2021-07-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 84 | 67 |
Alerts Sign-up