In the week ending March 12, there were 1,089 deaths in the state. 21.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 15.4% were from cancer and 15.8% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.4% 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 12
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending March 12 | Deaths in Week Ending March 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 230 | 282 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 168 | 214 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 94 | 182 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 78 | 147 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 50 | 69 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 49 | 61 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 36 | 50 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 28 | 29 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 13 | 19 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 12 | 23 |
Tennessee Dementia deaths in week ending March 12
| Cause of Death | Deaths in Week Ending March 12 | Deaths in Week Ending March 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 91 | 125 |
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