In the week ending July 22, there were 5,268 deaths in the state. 19.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.6% were from cancer and 1.9% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.9% 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 22
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer's disease | 303 | 5.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 301 | 5.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 204 | 3.9 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 184 | 3.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 97 | 1.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 78 | 1.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 57 | 1.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 43 | 0.8 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 1,190 | 22.6 |
| Heart disease | 1,045 | 19.8 |
California Dementia deaths in week ending July 22
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 519 | 9.9 |
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