In the week ending June 24, there were 1,475 deaths in the state. 22% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.5% were from cancer and 2% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.5% 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 June 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 324 | 22 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 287 | 19.5 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 79 | 5.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 77 | 5.2 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 62 | 4.2 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 37 | 2.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 25 | 1.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 22 | 1.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 17 | 1.2 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 12 | 0.8 |
Tennessee Dementia deaths in week ending June 24
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 126 | 8.5 |
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