In the week ending Dec. 10, 2022, there were 5,981 deaths in the state. 20.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.9% were from cancer and 9.7% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 11.7% 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 Dec. 10, 2022
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer's disease | 384 | 6.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 381 | 6.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 329 | 5.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 286 | 4.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 250 | 4.2 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 226 | 3.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 187 | 3.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 88 | 1.5 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 1,130 | 18.9 |
| Heart disease | 1,233 | 20.6 |
California Dementia deaths in week ending Dec. 10, 2022
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 702 | 11.7 |
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