An estimated 62,100 people in Iowa over age 65 have Alzheimer's, according to estimates released by the Alzheimer's Association in 2023.
Alzheimer's disease afflicts an estimated 6.7 million Americans, and that number is only growing. Medical professionals believe the volume of diagnoses could double by 2060 if there isn't a breakthrough in prevention—or a cure.
For the first time, the Alzheimer's Association released estimates on Alzheimer's prevalence in each state and county. Researchers hope these figures will help regional public health officials better treat Alzheimer's patients, develop localized care plans, and budget for care—particularly as new treatments come at a cost.
Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia and is among the top 10 causes of death in the U.S. These deaths are increasing as fatality rates from other health-related causes, including heart disease and stroke, are on the decline. With Alzheimer's, the brain shrinks, brain cells die, and peoples' memory and language centers fail. As the disease advances, the loss of brain function leads to dehydration, malnutrition, infection, and ultimately death.
Developing a cure or effective treatment has been slow, as medical professionals still don't know what causes Alzheimer's. But earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration fully greenlit the first drug proven to effectively treat the disease: lecanemab (sold under the brand name Leqembi), created by Eisai Inc. and Biogen. Earlier treatments only addressed symptoms of Alzheimer's, while lecanemab treats the early stages of the disease itself and slows its progression.
The drug costs $26,500 annually and is partially covered by Medicare if a patient's medical team participates in a registry to track the drug's outcomes. Those high costs could keep the treatment out of reach for low-income Americans, who already have higher odds of developing Alzheimer's, studies have shown.
Nearly all Alzheimer's patients are on government insurance, and estimates show that Medicare could spend $2 billion to $5 billion annually on lecanemab and related care. That pales in comparison to the $345 billion that Alzheimer's and other dementias cost in 2023, including nursing home stays, symptom management medications, and other care for those with the disease. Without medical advancements, the Alzheimer's Association expects those costs could rise to nearly $1 trillion by 2050.
If lecanemab and similar drugs can slow progression in even half of mild Alzheimer's patients, one study from the University of Chicago estimates Americans would save $212 billion to over $1 trillion in care-related costs over the next decade.
Having a treatment to slow the progression of Alzheimer's also creates more urgency to diagnose the disease sooner to retain more brain function. Warning signs for the disease include disruptive memory loss, difficulty with familiar tasks, worsening judgment, and changes in mood and personality.
The U.S. has a shortage of specialists in elder and memory-related medicine and nurses providing care at nursing homes and assisted-living facilities. In regions with high rates of Alzheimer's, these shortages could be catastrophic within the current models of care.
Stacker mapped states by the share of the population over age 65 that is estimated to have Alzheimer's disease, using data released by the Alzheimer's Association in July 2023. As a part of the national analysis, Stacker also took a closer look at Iowa and ranked the counties within it by their estimated Alzheimer's prevalence.
You may also like: Most expensive homes for sale in Iowa
Alzheimer's rates by state
State and detailed county-level estimates show vast disparities in the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease based on racial and socioeconomic factors. Older Americans, women, Black and Hispanic Americans, and those with lower education levels are at higher risk for developing Alzheimer's dementia, according to data from the Chicago Health and Aging Project, on which these estimates were based.
The East and Southeast regions of the U.S. were estimated to have the highest prevalence of Alzheimer's, particularly Maryland, New York, Florida, Mississippi, and Louisiana. In Maryland, nearly 30% of residents are Black, and a slightly higher share of the population is 85 and older compared to national numbers—substantial risk factors that earn it the #1 spot.
In addition to a high prevalence of the disease, Mississippi has the highest Alzheimer's mortality rate, largely due to having the worst-quality health care system in the country, Time reported.
Some of the most afflicted counties are home to Black and Hispanic populations in the South, low-income populations in Appalachia, and older adults in Florida, according to Time. Other studies have found that people in rural areas tend to be underdiagnosed or diagnosed in later stages of dementia, delaying or preventing potential treatments.
Read on to see where in Iowa has the highest prevalence of Alzheimer's, ranked by the share of the 65 and over population estimated to have the disease. Initial ties were broken by the number of people estimated to have Alzheimer's, but some ties may remain.
dustin77a // Shutterstock
2 / 51#49. Greene County (tie)
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.3%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 200 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.
Kimberly's Impressions // Shutterstock
3 / 51#49. Taylor County (tie)
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.3%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 200 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.
SevenMaps // Shutterstock
4 / 51#47. Franklin County (tie)
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.3%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 300 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.
Daniel Novak // Shutterstock
5 / 51#47. Guthrie County (tie)
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.3%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 300 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.
You may also like: Breweries with the most highly ranked beers in Iowa
Marsen // Shutterstock
6 / 51#44. Jones County (tie)
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.3%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 500 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.
IN Dancing Light // Shutterstock
7 / 51#44. Washington County (tie)
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.3%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 500 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.
#44. Winneshiek County (tie)
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.3%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 500 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.
Joseph Kreiss // Shutterstock
9 / 51#43. Emmet County
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.4%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 200 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.
dustin77a // Shutterstock
10 / 51#40. Crawford County (tie)
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.4%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 300 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.
Kelsey Haugen // Shutterstock
12 / 51#40. Union County (tie)
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.4%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 300 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.
Kuehner // Shutterstock
13 / 51#39. Fayette County
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.4%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 500 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.
#38. Cerro Gordo County
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.4%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 1,100 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points—or 100 people—of the estimate.
#36. Decatur County (tie)
SevenMaps // Shutterstock
16 / 51#36. Howard County (tie)
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.5%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 200 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.
#34. Keokuk County (tie)
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.5%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 300 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.
SevenMaps // Shutterstock
18 / 51#34. Montgomery County (tie)
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.5%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 300 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.
SevenMaps // Shutterstock
19 / 51#30. Butler County (tie)
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.5%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 400 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.
SevenMaps // Shutterstock
20 / 51#30. Clay County (tie)
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.5%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 400 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.
You may also like: Best colleges in Iowa
#30. Poweshiek County (tie)
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.5%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 400 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.
Lucas Oglesbee // Shutterstock
22 / 51#30. Tama County (tie)
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.5%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 400 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.
Arlen E Breiholz // Shutterstock
23 / 51#29. Clayton County
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.5%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 500 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.
#27. Hancock County (tie)
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.6%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 300 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.
#27. Winnebago County (tie)
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.6%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 300 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.
You may also like: Highest-rated breweries in Iowa
Naw Eh Wah // Shutterstock
26 / 51#26. Buena Vista County
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.6%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 400 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points of the estimate.
April Taymen // Shutterstock
27 / 51#25. Bremer County
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.6%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 600 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.
farmer doug // Shutterstock
28 / 51#23. Ida County (tie)
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.7%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 200 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.
#23. Pocahontas County (tie)
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.7%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 200 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.
Brooke Van Zee // Shutterstock
30 / 51#22. Wayne County
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.8%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 200 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.
You may also like: Countries to which Iowa exports the most goods
Robert O Hull // Shutterstock
31 / 51#21. Calhoun County
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.8%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 300 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.
#19. Hamilton County (tie)
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.8%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 400 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.
#19. Iowa County (tie)
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.8%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 400 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.
#18. Humboldt County
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.9%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 200 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.
SevenMaps // Shutterstock
35 / 51#17. Hardin County
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.9%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 500 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.
You may also like: Fastest-growing jobs in Iowa
Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock
36 / 51#16. Carroll County
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.0%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 500 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.
#15. Sioux County
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.0%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 700 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.
Supunsa Bastin // Shutterstock
38 / 51#14. Sac County
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.1%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 300 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.
Suzanne Tucker // Shutterstock
39 / 51#13. Audubon County
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.2%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 200 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.
#11. Lyon County (tie)
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.2%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 300 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.
You may also like: Cities with the most expensive homes in Iowa
#11. Shelby County (tie)
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.2%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 300 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.
Joel McCartan // Shutterstock
42 / 51#10. Kossuth County
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.2%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 400 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.
#9. Adair County
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.3%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 200 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.
Jonathan Park // Shutterstock
44 / 51#8. Cherokee County
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.3%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 300 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.
#7. Wright County
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.3%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 400 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.
You may also like: Highest-earning counties in Iowa
Joel McCartan // Shutterstock
46 / 51#6. Palo Alto County
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.4%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 200 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.
Joel McCartan // Shutterstock
47 / 51#5. O'Brien County
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.4%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 400 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.
Gabe Shakour // Shutterstock
48 / 51#4. Osceola County
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.5%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 200 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points of the estimate.
#3. Mitchell County
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.5%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 300 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.
#2. Monona County
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.6%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 300 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.
You may also like: Highest-rated stouts in Iowa
Life Atlas Photography // Shutterstock
51 / 51#1. Ringgold County
- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.9%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 100 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.
This story features data reporting by and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
