In the week ending July 8, there were 1,396 deaths in the state. 22.4% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 18.8% were from cancer and 1.1% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 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 July 8
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 313 | 22.4 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 263 | 18.8 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 66 | 4.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 53 | 3.8 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 51 | 3.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 37 | 2.7 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 17 | 1.2 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 16 | 1.1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 15 | 1.1 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 0.7 |
Tennessee Dementia deaths in week ending July 8
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 126 | 9 |
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