Southeast US Has 25% Higher Dementia Incidence Than Mid-Atlantic

Dementia is a significant health issue in the United States, affecting over 6 million Americans and contributing to more than 100,000 deaths annually. Researchers estimate that 42% of Americans over the age of 55 will develop dementia at some point in their lives. The aging population in the U.S. is expected to double the number of new dementia cases per year by 2060.

Recent research from the University of California San Francisco has identified the regions in the U.S. with the highest incidence of dementia. The study, published in JAMA Neurology, analyzed data from over 12.6 million veterans aged 65 and older who are enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration system. The study found that the Southeast region, which includes North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, has the highest incidence of dementia. In contrast, the Mid-Atlantic states, including Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, New Jersey, and Washington D.C., have the lowest incidence.

The study compared the incidence of dementia in different regions using the Mid-Atlantic region as a baseline. The Southeast region had a 25% higher incidence of dementia compared to the Mid-Atlantic region. The Northwest region, which includes Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, had a 23% higher incidence. The Rocky Mountains region, encompassing Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming, also had a 23% higher incidence. The South region, which includes Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, had an 18% higher incidence. The Southwest region, including Arizona, California, Hawaiʻi, and Nevada, had a 13% higher incidence. The South Atlantic region, which includes North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, had a 12% higher incidence. The Midwest region, which includes Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska, also had a 12% higher incidence. The Northeast region, which includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, and New York, had a 7% higher incidence. The Great Lakes region, which includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin, also had a 7% higher incidence.

The study suggests that regional variations in dementia incidence may be influenced by several factors, including demographic characteristics such as sex, race, ethnicity, and education level. The prevalence and management of cardiovascular disease and related risk factors, which are known to increase the risk of dementia and cognitive decline, also vary across the country. Additionally, the rurality of residence may play a role, with studies showing greater dementia and cognitive impairment among rural adults, possibly due to limited access to healthcare or poverty.

The findings underscore the importance of regionally tailored healthcare strategies, public health initiatives, and policy reforms. The varied findings highlight the need for targeted healthcare planning, public health interventions, and policy development, as well as more research. Factors such as the quality of education, early life conditions, and environmental exposures may contribute to these differences. The next important step, according to lead author Christina Dintica, PhD, is to investigate the factors driving these differences in dementia incidence across regions.