In the week ending June 19, there were 501 deaths in the state. 21.4 percent of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.2 percent were from cancer and less than 2 percent were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10 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 2021-06-19 | Number of Deaths 2021-06-12 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 107 | 115 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 91 | 109 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 32 | 26 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 22 | 25 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 16 | 21 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 16 | 11 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | 10 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | 11 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | 14 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths 2021-06-19 | Number of Deaths 2021-06-12 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 50 | 38 |
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