There were 20 deaths with influenza and pneumonia listed as the underlying cause reported in New Jersey during the week ending June 4, 2022, a 13% decrease from the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the week ending June 4, 2022, there were 1,211 deaths in the state. 23% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.3% were from cancer and 7.3% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.6% 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.
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending June 4, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending May 28, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 279 | 290 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 258 | 287 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 57 | 55 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 52 | 55 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 52 | 63 |
| Alzheimer’s disease | 38 | 39 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 36 | 46 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 30 | 38 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 24 | 19 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 20 | 23 |
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending June 4, 2022 | Deaths in Week Ending May 28, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 104 | 121 |
