In the week ending July 29, there were 4,998 deaths in the state. 19.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.2% were from cancer and 2.6% 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 29
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 977 | 19.5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 322 | 6.4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 274 | 5.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 204 | 4.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 190 | 3.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 78 | 1.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 76 | 1.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 63 | 1.3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 56 | 1.1 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 1,111 | 22.2 |
California Dementia deaths in week ending July 29
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 473 | 9.5 |
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