In the week ending July 17, there were 1,845 deaths in the state. 23.9 percent of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.1 percent were from cancer and 2 percent were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.1 percent 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.
New York state top 10 causes of death in week ending July 17
| Cause of Death | Cause of Death | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 441 | 23.9 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 389 | 21.1 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 85 | 4.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 75 | 4.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 45 | 2.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 41 | 2.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 38 | 2.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 33 | 1.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 23 | 1.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 13 | 0.7 |
New York state Dementia deaths in week ending July 17
| Cause of Death | Cause of Death | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 149 | 8.1 |
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