In the week ending June 18, there were 1,053 deaths in the state. 23% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.7% were from cancer and 5.2% were from COVID-19.
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 June 18
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 242 | 23 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 218 | 20.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 59 | 5.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 56 | 5.3 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 47 | 4.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 34 | 3.2 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 31 | 2.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 21 | 2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 17 | 1.6 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 15 | 1.4 |
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