In the week ending Oct. 1, there were 1,006 deaths in the state. 20.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.7% were from cancer and 7.6% 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 Oct. 1
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 209 | 20.8 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 198 | 19.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 57 | 5.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 50 | 5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 44 | 4.4 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 36 | 3.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 32 | 3.2 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 30 | 3 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 15 | 1.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 13 | 1.3 |
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