Seniors in These 10 States Have the HIGHEST Alzheimer’s Rates
According to U.S. News & World Report, there have been recent advancements in Alzheimer’s research that might slow the progression of the disease. But it was still the seventh-leading cause of death in 2022. And while older adults all across America suffer from this condition, there are a few states where the numbers reported are higher.
1. Maryland (12.9%)
Maryland is home to the Chesapeake Bay, Johns Hopkins University…and the highest prevalence of Alzheimer’s in the nation. Sadly, the Old Line State tops our list at 12.9%. Geriatric physician George Hennawi explained this distinction in an interview with 11 News: “There’s somewhat of a direct correlation between developing dementia and having chronic cardiovascular disease, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and those tend to be prevalent at a higher rate in the African American population and the Hispanic population.”
The good news?
Maryland lawmakers are working to improve the state’s response to Alzheimer’s! In 2022, Governor Larry Hogan signed into law SB 0027 (Chapter 397 of 2022), which required the Council to publish an updated State Plan by September of 2022 and every five years after. The updated State Plan presented five goals to “improve public awareness about Alzheimer’s, enhance dementia care, and increase collection and use of data to drive dementia policy” (Alzheimer’s Impact Movement). Click here to view Maryland State’s Alzheimer’s plan.
2. New York (12.7%)
The Big Apple also reports higher-than-average numbers of Alzheimer’s. At 12.7%, it’s second only to Maryland. One particular borough reported high figures: The Bronx. Experts believe they’ve pinpointed why. According to NBC, the Bronx not only boasts a high percentage of residents aged 85 or older, but 30.1% and 46.9% of its residents are Black and Hispanic, respectively. Overall, according to data shared by the Coalition of New York State Alzheimer’s Association Chapters, over 426,500 New Yorkers over the age of 65 have Alzheimer’s. 543,000 caregivers provided 879 million (yes, 879 million) hours of unpaid care (per New York Office for the Aging).
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3. Mississippi (12.5%)
Third on our list is The Magnolia State. Sadly, over 65,000 Mississippians aged 65 and over have Alzheimer’s. Even more disconcertingly, Mississippi also has the highest Alzheimer’s mortality rate, due in part to its health care system. According to the article Mortality Trends in Alzheimer’s Disease in Mississippi, 2011–2021, Southern food (which is often high in sugar and salt) contributes to obesity and hypertension, both of which increase the mortality risk of Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, according to that same article, 56.3% of deaths from Alzheimer’s disease in Mississippi occurred in white women over the age of 65!
4. Florida (12.5%)
While Florida may seem like a mystical retirement haven to some and a much-coveted vacation spot to others, it also makes our list for a much less pleasant reason. The Sunshine State reports some of the nation’s highest Alzheimer’s numbers at 12.5 percent. That translates to about 580,000 people! The Alzheimer’s Association has called it a “growing public health crisis.” When you study the data, it isn’t hard to see why. For example, in Florida, around 18.6% of people over the age of 45 have “subjective cognitive decline.” That, according to the CDC, is self-reported memory loss. Worse still, over 870,000 family caregivers shoulder the burden of unpaid caregiving, to the tune of 1.3 billion hours.
5. Louisiana (12.4%)
The Pelican State draws tourists year-round thanks to the tourist attractions in New Orleans, some good old-fashioned Cajun cooking, and Mardi Gras. And while the state is rich in culture and history, it’s also infamous for another reason: a higher-than-average prevalence of Alzheimer’s. Unfortunately, studies show that nearly 12.4% of adults above the age of 65 in Louisiana have Alzheimer’s disease. That’s around 94,700 people! Alz.org shared additional data that casts an even somber light on Alzheimer’s disease in the Pelican State. There are over 168,000 caregivers in Louisiana, amounting to 256,000,000 hours of unpaid care. Even worse? 62.4% of caregivers have chronic conditions themselves, with an additional 37.2% reporting that they’re depressed.
6. New Jersey (12.3%)
The Garden State is brimming with charm and history, but living here is no picnic for some older adults. Sadly, New Jersey is another state that reports a higher-than-normal prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease, with over 12.3% of the population suffering from the condition. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are over 185,000 cases of Alzheimer’s in the Garden State, with 15% of people over the age of 45 also reporting subjective cognitive decline. Meanwhile, over 279,000 family caregivers provide unpaid care, or 506 million hours. The value of that unpaid care? Over $13 billion.
7. California (12%)
California is home to Hollywood, mountains, and some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. And while it boasts natural beauty and recreational opportunities galore, it’s also one of the states with the highest prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, nearly 12 percent of California residents suffer from this condition. That’s almost 720,000 people! Even worse, over 17,300 California residents die from Alzheimer’s disease each year.
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8. Illinois (12%)
Illinois is perhaps best known for its largest city, Chicago. The city is home to world-class museums, theaters, sports teams, and architectural landmarks such as the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) and the Cloud Gate sculpture (affectionately known as “The Bean”). Sadly, Illinois makes our list as one of the states with the highest prevalence of Alzheimer’s at 12%. That means that around 251,000 Illinois residents over the age of 65 have Alzheimer’s. Even more startling are some other figures, also compiled by the Alzheimer’s Association. According to their report, there are over 316,000 family caregivers doing 488 million hours of unpaid care in Illinois.
9. Georgia (12%)
Georgia is known for its warm and welcoming atmosphere, often referred to as “Southern hospitality.” Unfortunately, it’s also known for something slightly more sinister. Like Illinois and California, the Peach State has a high prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease at 12%. Georgia.gov states that over 188,000 of its residents are living with the disease.
Unfortunately, there’s another stark reality. Rural Georgians are struggling to get access to the care services they need, according to an article in UGA Today. “It’s hard for people to find a trained, capable physician in Alzheimer’s disease to be able to make a diagnosis,” Niying Li, lead author of the study and an assistant professor in the UGA College of Pharmacy, told UGA Today in an interview. Li also added that rural Georgians with the disease lack support and resources in general. To read the full article in UGA Today and find out more, click here.
10. Connecticut (11.9%)
Connecticut is one of the New England states, famous for its autumnal views, a wide selection of bed-and-breakfast inns, and historical sites. Gilmore Girls fans might also see it as their Mecca! It’s also the third smallest state, behind only Rhode Island and Delaware. But it’s not one of the smallest states when it comes to Alzheimer’s. It has one of the highest prevalences for Alzheimer’s disease, trailing only slightly behind Georgia at 11.9 percent. That means that about 77,000 Connecticut residents over the age of 65 have Alzheimer’s. Over 130,000 family caregivers provide over 205 million hours of unpaid care, as well.
Why do some states have more Alzheimer’s patients than others?
According to research by the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, location might play a role in Alzheimer’s. Their studies found that the eastern and southeastern U.S. have the highest prevalence of the disease. In fact, they estimated that in counties with a population of 10,000 or more individuals, the highest Alzheimer’s rates are in Miami-Dade County in Florida (16.6%), Baltimore City in Maryland (16.6%), and Bronx County in New York (16.6%).
Furthermore, Fortune states that with more people aged 85 and older, more women, and more non-white individuals, report higher numbers of Alzheimer’s. Sadly, older Black Americans are nearly twice as likely to have Alzheimer’s as they age compared to their white counterparts. The Alzheimer’s Association 2023 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures also notes that the Hispanic-American population may be more susceptible than white older adults. Specifically, they’re one and a half times as likely to develop Alzheimer’s.
Kumar B. Rajan, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at Rush Medical College, weighed in on these statistics. “The estimates are based on cognitive and demographic characteristics,” Rajan said. “Alzheimer’s dementia is a multifactorial disease involving several risk characteristics that interact with demographic risk factors and ultimately contribute to the prevalence.”
How does this data aid Alzheimer’s research?
Matthew Baumgart, Alzheimer’s Association vice president of health policy, had a lot to say about Alzheimer’s prevalence estimates. According to Baumart, these estimates “can help federal and state public health officials determine the burden on the health care system, and county-level estimates help us better understand and pinpoint areas of high risk and high need—where, for example, culturally-sensitive health support and caregiver training services are needed.” In other words, these studies may make it easier for healthcare officials to put preventative care measures into place. While there’s still a lot of work to be done, experts are hopeful about the future of Alzheimer’s research!
Need More Dementia Resources?
To read more articles on Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, start here:
Alzheimer’s and Dementia Senior Resource Center
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Originally published July 16, 2025
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