In the week ending Nov. 5, there were 5,614 deaths in the state. 19.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.5% were from cancer and 3.9% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.4% 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.
California top 10 causes of death in week ending Nov. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer's disease | 348 | 6.2 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 348 | 6.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 222 | 4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 215 | 3.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 134 | 2.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 93 | 1.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 85 | 1.5 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 84 | 1.5 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 1,151 | 20.5 |
| Heart disease | 1,113 | 19.8 |
California Dementia deaths in week ending Nov. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 582 | 10.4 |
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