In the week ending July 1, there were 1,492 deaths in the state. 23.2% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20% were from cancer and less than 0.7% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 7.5% 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 July 1
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 346 | 23.2 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 298 | 20 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 80 | 5.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 70 | 4.7 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 44 | 2.9 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 43 | 2.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 22 | 1.5 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 21 | 1.4 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 0.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 0.7 |
Tennessee Dementia deaths in week ending July 1
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 112 | 7.5 |
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