In the week ending May 22, 2021, there were 5,190 deaths in the state. 20% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.6% were from cancer and 5.1% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.8% 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 May 22, 2021
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 352 | 6.8 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 277 | 5.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 203 | 3.9 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 163 | 3.1 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 148 | 2.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 116 | 2.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 73 | 1.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 59 | 1.1 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 1,122 | 21.6 |
| Heart disease | 1,039 | 20 |
California Dementia deaths in week ending May 22, 2021
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 455 | 8.8 |
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