In the week ending July 8, there were 5,142 deaths in the state. 20.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.4% were from cancer and 1.4% 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 July 8
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 307 | 6 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 289 | 5.6 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 210 | 4.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 208 | 4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 89 | 1.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 75 | 1.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 44 | 0.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 28 | 0.5 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 1,099 | 21.4 |
| Heart disease | 1,061 | 20.6 |
California Dementia deaths in week ending July 8
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 467 | 9.1 |
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