In the week ending December 11, there were 1,054 deaths in the state. 23.9 percent of deaths were caused by heart disease, 16.6 percent were from cancer and 9 percent were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.9 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 2021-12-11 | Number of Deaths 2021-12-04 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 252 | 279 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 175 | 196 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 69 | 53 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 52 | 63 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 49 | 64 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 46 | 55 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 43 | 51 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 28 | 26 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 25 | 21 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 16 | < 10 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths 2021-12-11 | Number of Deaths 2021-12-04 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 94 | 94 |
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