In the week ending July 22, there were 1,380 deaths in the state. 23.3% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.9% were from cancer and 2.2% 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.
New Jersey top 10 causes of death in week ending July 22
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 321 | 23.3 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 302 | 21.9 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 83 | 6 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 43 | 3.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 27 | 2 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 25 | 1.8 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 24 | 1.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 19 | 1.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 17 | 1.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 13 | 0.9 |
New Jersey Dementia deaths in week ending July 22
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 119 | 8.6 |
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