New Study: South Carolina No. 11 State Most Impacted by Dementia

April 17, 2023

6:26 PM

A new study says South Carolina is the No. 11 state most impacted by dementia. Eight of the 10 most impacted states are in the Southeast and six of the 10 least impacted are in the Northeast.

The rankings came from Seniorly, a company that helps families and older adults find senior living communities, and used the most recent data on dementia from the CDC and Alzheimer's Association.

The rankings were determined by analyzing factors such as mortality rates, rates of cognitive decline among seniors, the percentage that need help with daily activities, and annual Medicaid costs.

5 Key Findings:

South Carolina No. 11 Most Impacted State
- Alzheimer's is expected to increase 26.3% by 2025; 10.8% of seniors show cognitive decline; 26.9% need help with daily activities; the Alzheimer's mortality rate is 40.9 per 100,000; and the average annual Medicaid cost for dementia is $6,863.
Top 5 Risk Factors for Dementia
- High blood pressure (49.9% prevalent in people with dementia), Lack of exercise (49.7%), Obesity (35.3%), Diabetes (18.6%), Depression (18%)
Impact on Family Caregivers
- The value of unpaid caregiving is $340 billion, 58% of family caregivers report extreme stress, 47% less sleep, and 43% feel isolated
Ten Most Impacted States
- Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Arkansas, Georgia, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and West Virginia
Five Steps You Can Take to Reduce Risk
- Exercise, eat healthy, moderate drinking, maintain social relationships, and exercise your brain (crossword puzzles, sudoku, learning a new language).

To see the full report, click here.