In the week ending Aug. 5, there were 1,349 deaths in the state. 23.5% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 19.9% were from cancer and 3.3% 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 Aug. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 317 | 23.5 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 269 | 19.9 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 63 | 4.7 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 62 | 4.6 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 37 | 2.7 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 33 | 2.4 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 28 | 2.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 25 | 1.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 16 | 1.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 14 | 1 |
Tennessee Dementia deaths in week ending Aug. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 115 | 8.5 |
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