In the week ending Aug. 6, there were 1,148 deaths in the state. 21.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.8% were from cancer and 11.4% 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 Aug. 6
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 247 | 21.5 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 227 | 19.8 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 77 | 6.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 56 | 4.9 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 55 | 4.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 54 | 4.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 52 | 4.5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 37 | 3.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 16 | 1.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | < 10 | < 0.9 |
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