In the week ending Nov. 12, there were 2,087 deaths in the state. 22.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.5% were from cancer and 9.4% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.1% 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 Nov. 12
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 469 | 22.5 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 408 | 19.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 118 | 5.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 92 | 4.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 82 | 3.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 79 | 3.8 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 52 | 2.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 51 | 2.4 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 37 | 1.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 34 | 1.6 |
New York state Dementia deaths in week ending Nov. 12
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 190 | 9.1 |
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