Researchers Studying Why Alzheimer’s Cases Are Clustered In Certain Counties

A senior woman sitting and looking out from the window

Several studies have found that there is a correlation between where you live and the likelihood that you will get Alzheimer’s disease or some other form of dementia.  U.S. researchers are now turning to see what, if any, common risk factors are involved.  The data shows that the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease is higher in the Southeast and Gulf States (including Florida and Texas), compared with Western states like Arizona and Colorado.  Studies released this year have found higher rates of Alzheimer’s in poor neighborhoods and in rural Appalachia compared with non-Appalachian rural counties.  Another study from UsAgainstAlzheimer’s and the Urban Institute identified 25 counties with the highest prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease for Blacks, Latinos and Whites based on Medicare data.    These studies are important as we need to identify where the hot spots are so we can devote more financial resources to combatting this terrible disease.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/alzheimers-research-looks-at-hot-spots-across-the-u-s-11605558173