In the week ending Dec. 24, there were 4,521 deaths in the state. 21.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.7% were from cancer and 10.4% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 15.8% 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 Dec. 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 954 | 21.1 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 891 | 19.7 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 348 | 7.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 283 | 6.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 268 | 5.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 222 | 4.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 203 | 4.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 155 | 3.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 131 | 2.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 65 | 1.4 |
California Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 715 | 15.8 |
Alerts Sign-up