In the week ending Aug. 6, there were 952 deaths in the state. 16.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.8% were from cancer and 6.2% 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 Aug. 6
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 217 | 22.8 |
| Heart disease | 160 | 16.8 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 37 | 3.9 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 37 | 3.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 32 | 3.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 31 | 3.3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 23 | 2.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 22 | 2.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 21 | 2.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 10 | 1.1 |
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