In the week ending July 22, there were 1,510 deaths in the state. 22% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 23.3% were from cancer and 1.9% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 10.6% 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 22
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 352 | 23.3 |
| Heart disease | 332 | 22 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 81 | 5.4 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 69 | 4.6 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 67 | 4.4 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 35 | 2.3 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 34 | 2.3 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 18 | 1.2 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 13 | 0.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | 10 | 0.7 |
Georgia Dementia deaths in week ending July 22
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 160 | 10.6 |
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