In the week ending Oct. 8, there were 1,243 deaths in the state. 21.7% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 24.6% were from cancer and 5.9% 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 Oct. 8
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 306 | 24.6 |
| Heart disease | 270 | 21.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 70 | 5.6 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 48 | 3.9 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 47 | 3.8 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 38 | 3.1 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 32 | 2.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 26 | 2.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 25 | 2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 15 | 1.2 |
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