In the week ending June 24, there were 1,877 deaths in the state. 24.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.9% were from cancer and 1.8% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.7% 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.
New York state top 10 causes of death in week ending June 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 468 | 24.9 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 392 | 20.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 77 | 4.1 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 70 | 3.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 42 | 2.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 41 | 2.2 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 37 | 2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 26 | 1.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 22 | 1.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 12 | 0.6 |
New York state Dementia deaths in week ending June 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 163 | 8.7 |
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