In the week ending Nov. 12, there were 1,768 deaths in the state. 20.8% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 21.8% were from cancer and 2.5% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 8.8% 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.
Georgia top 10 causes of death in week ending Nov. 12
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 385 | 21.8 |
| Heart disease | 368 | 20.8 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 96 | 5.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 89 | 5 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 71 | 4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 51 | 2.9 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 42 | 2.4 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 30 | 1.7 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 28 | 1.6 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 16 | 0.9 |
Georgia Dementia deaths in week ending Nov. 12
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 155 | 8.8 |
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