In the week ending July 10, there were 885 deaths in the state. 21.9 percent of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.8 percent were from cancer and 6 percent were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7.9 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 2021-07-10 | Number of Deaths 2021-07-03 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 202 | 187 |
| Heart disease | 194 | 193 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 60 | 64 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 45 | 49 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 30 | 22 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 29 | 30 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 27 | 30 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 24 | 22 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 19 | 23 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 10 | 10 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths 2021-07-10 | Number of Deaths 2021-07-03 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 70 | 74 |
Alerts Sign-up