Regional Variations in Dementia Risk Across the United States

A comprehensive study led by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, has shed light on how dementia prevalence varies significantly across different regions of the United States. Published in JAMA Neurology, the research analyzed data to identify areas with higher or lower dementia occurrence. The findings reveal that, compared to the Mid-Atlantic baseline, the Southeast experiences a 25% higher rate of dementia. The Northwest and Rocky Mountains are also notably affected, with rates 23% higher, while the South faces an 18% increase. The Southwest, including California, shows a 13% higher incidence, and the Northeast, comprising New York, reports a 7% increase. What makes this study particularly important is that these regional differences persisted even after adjusting for factors such as age, race, and cardiovascular conditions. It also highlights disparities between rural and urban areas, with rural regions often having less access to healthcare services. The senior author, Dr. Kristine Yaffe, emphasized the importance of understanding these regional differences to develop targeted prevention and intervention strategies. The first author, Dr. Christina Dintica, suggested that factors such as educational quality, early-life conditions, and environmental exposures could contribute to these disparities. The regions were defined according to CDC classifications, covering four to seven states each. Future research aims to uncover the underlying causes of these variations, which could inform tailored approaches to reduce dementia rates nationwide.