In the week ending March 5, there were 1,244 deaths in the state. 20.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 15.8% were from cancer and 24.6% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.6% 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.
Tennessee top 10 causes of death in week ending March 5
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending March 5 | Deaths in Week Ending Feb. 26 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 255 | 295 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 196 | 201 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 170 | 250 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 136 | 212 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 63 | 55 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 57 | 71 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 48 | 47 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 25 | 41 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 21 | 23 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 19 | 24 |
Tennessee Dementia deaths in week ending March 5
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending March 5 | Deaths in Week Ending Feb. 26 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 119 | 128 |
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