In the week ending May 22, there were 514 deaths in the state. 20.6 percent of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.4 percent were from cancer and 6 percent were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.3 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 2021-05-22 | Number of Deaths 2021-05-15 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 106 | 117 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 105 | 118 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 28 | 15 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 26 | 21 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 22 | 29 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 20 | 14 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 18 | 30 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 13 | 23 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths 2021-05-22 | Number of Deaths 2021-05-15 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 53 | 46 |
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