In the week ending June 12, there were 833 deaths in the state. 20.2 percent of deaths were caused by heart disease, 17.8 percent were from cancer and 5 percent were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.8 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 | 168 | 166 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 148 | 165 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 44 | 47 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 40 | 48 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 38 | 36 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 22 | 23 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 20 | 19 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 17 | 16 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 15 | 21 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 10 | < 10 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths 2021-06-12 | Number of Deaths 2021-06-05 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 82 | 91 |
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