In the week ending Aug. 5, there were 4,799 deaths in the state. 19.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.7% were from cancer and 2.4% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.3% 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 Aug. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 931 | 19.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 302 | 6.3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 271 | 5.6 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 209 | 4.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 147 | 3.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 79 | 1.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 70 | 1.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 67 | 1.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 47 | 1 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 1,091 | 22.7 |
California Dementia deaths in week ending Aug. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 445 | 9.3 |
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