In the week ending July 1, there were 1,875 deaths in the state. 25% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.6% were from cancer and 1.8% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7.6% 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 1
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 468 | 25 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 405 | 21.6 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 82 | 4.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 66 | 3.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 58 | 3.1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 40 | 2.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 31 | 1.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 30 | 1.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 19 | 1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 14 | 0.7 |
New York state Dementia deaths in week ending July 1
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 142 | 7.6 |
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