In the week ending July 1, there were 5,290 deaths in the state. 20.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.1% were from cancer and 1.8% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.5% 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 July 1
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 324 | 6.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 300 | 5.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 224 | 4.2 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 181 | 3.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 98 | 1.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 91 | 1.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 57 | 1.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 39 | 0.7 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 1,168 | 22.1 |
| Heart disease | 1,065 | 20.1 |
California Dementia deaths in week ending July 1
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 500 | 9.5 |
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