In the week ending Nov. 12, there were 1,567 deaths in the state. 20.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 16.1% were from cancer and 6.1% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.9% 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. 12
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 327 | 20.9 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 253 | 16.1 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 97 | 6.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 89 | 5.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 61 | 3.9 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 55 | 3.5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 49 | 3.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 35 | 2.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 34 | 2.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 24 | 1.5 |
Tennessee Dementia deaths in week ending Nov. 12
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 140 | 8.9 |
Alerts Sign-up