In the week ending Nov. 12, there were 5,671 deaths in the state. 21% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.3% were from cancer and 4.4% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.1% 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. 12
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer's disease | 336 | 5.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 326 | 5.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 229 | 4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 215 | 3.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 153 | 2.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 106 | 1.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 106 | 1.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 99 | 1.7 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 1,150 | 20.3 |
| Heart disease | 1,190 | 21 |
California Dementia deaths in week ending Nov. 12
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 573 | 10.1 |
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