In the week ending August 7, there were 1,133 deaths in the state. 17.2 percent of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.5 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 2021-08-07 | Number of Deaths 2021-07-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 244 | 243 |
| Heart disease | 195 | 205 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 48 | 34 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 42 | 39 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 26 | 25 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 22 | 21 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 22 | 23 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 18 | 17 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 16 | 14 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 14 | < 10 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths 2021-08-07 | Number of Deaths 2021-07-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 116 | 106 |
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