In the week ending June 17, there were 5,289 deaths in the state. 21.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.3% were from cancer and 1.9% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.1% 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 June 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 326 | 6.2 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 275 | 5.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 216 | 4.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 193 | 3.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 85 | 1.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 82 | 1.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 61 | 1.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 42 | 0.8 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 1,124 | 21.3 |
| Heart disease | 1,144 | 21.6 |
California Dementia deaths in week ending June 17
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 479 | 9.1 |
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