In the week ending Aug. 6, there were 1,207 deaths in the state. 26.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.3% were from cancer and 6.3% were from COVID-19.
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 Jersey top 10 causes of death in week ending Aug. 6
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 322 | 26.7 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 245 | 20.3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 53 | 4.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 45 | 3.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 43 | 3.6 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 43 | 3.6 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 41 | 3.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 31 | 2.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 19 | 1.6 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 11 | 0.9 |
Alerts Sign-up