In the week ending June 24, there were 5,267 deaths in the state. 20.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.5% were from cancer and 2.4% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.6% 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 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 342 | 6.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 279 | 5.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 203 | 3.9 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 200 | 3.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 86 | 1.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 77 | 1.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 76 | 1.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 51 | 1 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 1,135 | 21.5 |
| Heart disease | 1,083 | 20.6 |
California Dementia deaths in week ending June 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 503 | 9.6 |
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