In the week ending Aug. 5, there were 1,926 deaths in the state. 20.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.6% were from cancer and 1.8% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.1% 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 Aug. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 436 | 22.6 |
| Heart disease | 400 | 20.8 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 78 | 4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 66 | 3.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 45 | 2.3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 42 | 2.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 39 | 2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 38 | 2 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 19 | 1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 15 | 0.8 |
New York state Dementia deaths in week ending Aug. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 195 | 10.1 |
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