In the week ending July 8, there were 1,957 deaths in the state. 23% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.6% were from cancer and 1.3% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.1% 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.
Illinois top 10 causes of death in week ending July 8
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 450 | 23 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 443 | 22.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 100 | 5.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 74 | 3.8 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 65 | 3.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 54 | 2.8 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 48 | 2.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 23 | 1.2 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 15 | 0.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 10 | 0.5 |
Illinois Dementia deaths in week ending July 8
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 178 | 9.1 |
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