In the week ending Aug. 6, there were 2,398 deaths in the state. 21.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23.4% were from cancer and 12.2% were from COVID-19.
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.
California top 10 causes of death in week ending Aug. 6
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 562 | 23.4 |
| Heart disease | 507 | 21.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 184 | 7.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 167 | 7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 162 | 6.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 126 | 5.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 88 | 3.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 65 | 2.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 48 | 2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 22 | 0.9 |
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