In the week ending May 1, there were 301 deaths in the state. 22.6 percent of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.9 percent were from cancer and 8 percent were from COVID-19. Additionally, 11.6 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 2021-05-01 | Number of Deaths 2021-04-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 68 | 68 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 60 | 69 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 16 | 12 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 12 | 15 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 12 | 17 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 10 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | < 10 | < 10 |
| Diabetes mellitus | < 10 | 12 |
| Alzheimer's disease | < 10 | 11 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | < 10 | 12 |
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths 2021-05-01 | Number of Deaths 2021-04-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 35 | 30 |
Alerts Sign-up