In the week ending June 12, there were 1,213 deaths in the state. 19.2 percent of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23.8 percent were from cancer and 8 percent were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.6 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 289 | 256 |
| Heart disease | 233 | 295 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 71 | 75 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 57 | 73 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 54 | 72 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 51 | 42 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 43 | 62 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 34 | 41 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 21 | 23 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 16 | < 10 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths 2021-06-12 | Number of Deaths 2021-06-05 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 104 | 100 |
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