In the week ending Nov. 5, there were 1,642 deaths in the state. 21.6% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.3% were from cancer and 5.9% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7.9% 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 Nov. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 355 | 21.6 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 301 | 18.3 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 98 | 6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 80 | 4.9 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 61 | 3.7 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 44 | 2.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 41 | 2.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 37 | 2.3 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 36 | 2.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 20 | 1.2 |
Tennessee Dementia deaths in week ending Nov. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 130 | 7.9 |
Alerts Sign-up