In the week ending Sept. 24, 2022, there were 624 deaths in the state. 20% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.6% were from cancer and 6.7% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.6% 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 | Deaths in Week Ending Sept. 24, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Sept. 17, 2022 |
---|---|---|
Heart disease | 125 | 127 |
Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 116 | 122 |
Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 29 | 29 |
Cerebrovascular diseases | 28 | 22 |
Alzheimer's disease | 24 | 15 |
COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 24 | 24 |
COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 18 | 18 |
Influenza and pneumonia | 12 | 14 |
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 12 | < 10 |
Diabetes mellitus | 10 | 12 |
Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending Sept. 24, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending Sept. 17, 2022 |
---|---|---|
Alzheimer disease and dementia | 66 | 59 |