In the week ending Sept. 10, there were 3,462 deaths in the state. 20.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23% were from cancer and 7.4% 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 Sept. 10
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 795 | 23 |
| Heart disease | 705 | 20.4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 239 | 6.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 219 | 6.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 157 | 4.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 142 | 4.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 122 | 3.5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 98 | 2.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 58 | 1.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 57 | 1.6 |
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