In the week ending Sept. 24, there were 3,358 deaths in the state. 21% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 24.6% were from cancer and 5.7% 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. 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 826 | 24.6 |
| Heart disease | 704 | 21 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 254 | 7.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 217 | 6.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 134 | 4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 117 | 3.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 104 | 3.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 75 | 2.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 53 | 1.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 53 | 1.6 |
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