In the week ending July 22, there were 1,441 deaths in the state. 20.9% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.3% were from cancer and less than 0.7% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.1% 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 22
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 301 | 20.9 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 293 | 20.3 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 97 | 6.7 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 61 | 4.2 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 52 | 3.6 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 44 | 3.1 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 22 | 1.5 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 11 | 0.8 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 0.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | < 10 | < 0.7 |
Tennessee Dementia deaths in week ending July 22
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 131 | 9.1 |
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