In the week ending July 8, there were 1,614 deaths in the state. 22.1% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 20.8% were from cancer and 0.9% 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.
Georgia top 10 causes of death in week ending July 8
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 356 | 22.1 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 335 | 20.8 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 88 | 5.5 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 82 | 5.1 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 80 | 5 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 52 | 3.2 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 44 | 2.7 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 25 | 1.5 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 14 | 0.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 0.6 |
Georgia Dementia deaths in week ending July 8
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 147 | 9.1 |
Alerts Sign-up