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- The Top U.S. States Where Alzheimer’s Deaths are Surging (momswhothink.com)
Alzheimer’s Deaths on the Rise: A Look at the States Seeing the Biggest Increases
Dementia, a broad term encompassing severe cognitive decline, affects over 55 million people globally, with Alzheimer’s disease accounting for up to 70% of these cases. In the United States alone, approximately 6.9 million adults aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s.
This progressive and incurable disease damages brain cells essential for daily functions like thinking, speaking, and walking, and is ultimately fatal. It currently stands as the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S., often leading to serious complications such as pneumonia, malnutrition, and falls.
Since 2015, more than 110,000 Americans with Alzheimer’s have died annually, with a concerning 22% increase in deaths over the past decade.
Analyzing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a recent study identified the states experiencing the most significant surges in Alzheimer’s deaths. The rankings are based on the percentage increase in deaths between 2014 and 2023, including only states with at least a 10% rise. Among the 37 states meeting this criterion, death rates climbed anywhere from 13.2% to a staggering 116.2%.
Age remains the most substantial risk factor for Alzheimer’s, and many of the states on this list have notably aging populations. While some states witnessed sharp increases, it’s important to note that these don’t always correlate with the highest overall death rates.
For instance, Hawaii reported a 68% increase over the last decade but still maintains one of the lowest Alzheimer’s mortality rates nationwide. Conversely, nine out of the ten states with the highest overall death rates also appear among those with the largest increases.
Here’s a closer look at the states where Alzheimer’s deaths are surging, starting from the smallest increase to the largest:
37. Pennsylvania
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +13.2% (+459)
- Deaths by year: 3,945 (2023), 3,486 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 21.0 per 100,000 people (7th lowest)
36. New Jersey
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +13.4% (+262)
- Deaths by year: 2,224 (2023), 1,962 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 18.5 per 100,000 people (5th lowest)
35. Vermont
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +15.0% (+40)
- Deaths by year: 306 (2023), 266 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 33.2 per 100,000 people (16th highest)
34. Louisiana
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +15.7% (+262)
- Deaths by year: 1,932 (2023), 1,670 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 37.2 per 100,000 people (7th highest)
33. New York
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +16.9% (+446)
- Deaths by year: 3,085 (2023), 2,639 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 11.3 per 100,000 people (lowest)
32. Illinois
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +18.0% (+588)
- Deaths by year: 3,854 (2023), 3,266 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 24.6 per 100,000 people (15th lowest)
31. South Carolina
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +18.3% (+354)
- Deaths by year: 2,292 (2023), 1,938 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 35.1 per 100,000 people (12th highest)
30. Rhode Island
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +18.9% (+76)
- Deaths by year: 479 (2023), 403 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 31.1 per 100,000 people (24th highest)
29. Ohio
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +19.0% (+775)
- Deaths by year: 4,858 (2023), 4,083 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 32.3 per 100,000 people (18th highest)
28. Oklahoma
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +20.8% (+255)
- Deaths by year: 1,482 (2023), 1,227 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 32.3 per 100,000 people (18th highest)
27. Michigan
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +21.3% (+713)
- Deaths by year: 4,062 (2023), 3,349 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 32.1 per 100,000 people (20th highest)
26. Wyoming
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +22.2% (+36)
- Deaths by year: 198 (2023), 162 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 28.0 per 100,000 people (23rd lowest)
25. Missouri
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +22.6% (+464)
- Deaths by year: 2,517 (2023), 2,053 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 31.8 per 100,000 people (22nd highest)
24. Alabama
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +24.1% (+455)
- Deaths by year: 2,340 (2023), 1,885 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 37.4 per 100,000 people (6th highest)
23. Maryland
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +24.2% (+226)
- Deaths by year: 1,160 (2023), 934 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 15.4 per 100,000 people (2nd lowest)
22. North Carolina
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +24.5% (+796)
- Deaths by year: 4,042 (2023), 3,246 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 32.4 per 100,000 people (17th highest)
21. Wisconsin
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +25.2% (+473)
- Deaths by year: 2,349 (2023), 1,876 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 31.2 per 100,000 people (23rd highest)
20. Maine
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +25.8% (+112)
- Deaths by year: 546 (2023), 434 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 25.4 per 100,000 people (17th lowest)
19. New Hampshire
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +26.0% (+103)
- Deaths by year: 499 (2023), 396 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 25.7 per 100,000 people (18th lowest)
18. Arkansas
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +26.7% (+319)
- Deaths by year: 1,512 (2023), 1,193 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 39.5 per 100,000 people (3rd highest)
17. California
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +26.8% (+3,391)
- Deaths by year: 16,035 (2023), 12,644 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 35.3 per 100,000 people (11th highest)
16. Virginia
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +28.9% (+513)
- Deaths by year: 2,288 (2023), 1,775 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 22.5 per 100,000 people (10th lowest)
15. Montana
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +30.8% (+78)
- Deaths by year: 331 (2023), 253 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 22.1 per 100,000 people (9th lowest)
14. Nevada
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +31.5% (+191)
- Deaths by year: 797 (2023), 606 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 23.1 per 100,000 people (13th lowest)
13. Colorado
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +34.1% (+465)
- Deaths by year: 1,829 (2023), 1,364 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 30.6 per 100,000 people (25th highest)
12. Oregon
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +38.1% (+538)
- Deaths by year: 1,949 (2023), 1,411 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 36.2 per 100,000 people (9th highest)
11. Nebraska
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +40.2% (+207)
- Deaths by year: 722 (2023), 515 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 29.8 per 100,000 people (24th lowest)
10. New Mexico
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +43.0% (+190)
- Deaths by year: 632 (2023), 442 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 22.8 per 100,000 people (12th lowest)
9. Minnesota
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +44.7% (+728)
- Deaths by year: 2,356 (2023), 1,628 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 32.0 per 100,000 people (21st highest)
8. Texas
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +47.2% (+3,197)
- Deaths by year: 9,969 (2023), 6,772 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 36.8 per 100,000 people (8th highest)
7. Mississippi
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +56.6% (+622)
- Deaths by year: 1,720 (2023), 1,098 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 49.8 per 100,000 people (highest)
6. Georgia
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +57.3% (+1,529)
- Deaths by year: 4,199 (2023), 2,670 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 38.9 per 100,000 people (4th highest)
5. Hawaii
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +68.1% (+222)
- Deaths by year: 548 (2023), 326 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 21.7 per 100,000 people (8th lowest)
4. Delaware
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +77.7% (+146)
- Deaths by year: 334 (2023), 188 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 24.2 per 100,000 people (14th lowest)
3. Utah
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +80.1% (+468)
- Deaths by year: 1,052 (2023), 584 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 40.3 per 100,000 people (2nd highest)
2. Idaho
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +106.1% (+399)
- Deaths by year: 775 (2023), 376 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 35.6 per 100,000 people (10th highest)
1. Alaska
- 10-year change in Alzheimer’s deaths: +116.2% (+79)
- Deaths by year: 147 (2023), 68 (2014)
- 2023 mortality rate: 27.1 per 100,000 people (20th lowest)
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- The Top U.S. States Where Alzheimer’s Deaths are Surging (momswhothink.com)