In the week ending July 16, there were 907 deaths in the state. 17.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23.6% were from cancer and 6.6% were from COVID-19.
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.
Massachusetts top 10 causes of death in week ending July 16
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 214 | 23.6 |
| Heart disease | 155 | 17.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 34 | 3.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 31 | 3.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 31 | 3.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 29 | 3.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 29 | 3.2 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 26 | 2.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 17 | 1.9 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 1.1 |
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