In the week ending June 12, there were 1,044 deaths in the state. 21.7 percent of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.4 percent were from cancer and 3 percent were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.2 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 2021-06-12 | Number of Deaths 2021-06-05 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 227 | 206 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 203 | 245 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 53 | 41 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 46 | 42 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 44 | 35 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 25 | 25 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 20 | 29 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 15 | 14 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 11 | 24 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths 2021-06-12 | Number of Deaths 2021-06-05 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 106 | 81 |
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