In the week ending Aug. 5, there were 1,406 deaths in the state. 23% of deaths were caused by heart disease, 22.4% were from cancer and 0.9% were from COVID-19. Additionally, 9.8% 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 Aug. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Heart disease | 323 | 23 |
| Malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumor) | 315 | 22.4 |
| Cerebrovascular diseases | 87 | 6.2 |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 79 | 5.6 |
| Alzheimer's disease | 58 | 4.1 |
| Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis | 33 | 2.3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 26 | 1.8 |
| Influenza and pneumonia | 22 | 1.6 |
| COVID-19 (multiple cause) | 12 | 0.9 |
| COVID-19 (underlying cause) | < 10 | < 0.7 |
Georgia Dementia deaths in week ending Aug. 5
| Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer disease and dementia | 138 | 9.8 |
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