19 people die in Tennessee from influenza and pneumonia in week ending June 17

There were 19 deaths with influenza and pneumonia listed as the underlying cause reported in Tennessee during the week ending June 17, a 32.1% decrease from the previous week, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In the week ending June 17, there were 1,502 deaths in the state. 20.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.9% were from cancer and 0.7% 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.