A recent study published in JAMA Neurology has identified significant regional differences in dementia rates across the United States. Researchers from UC San Francisco compared Mid-Atlantic states to other regions and found that dementia rates were 25% higher in the Southeast, 23% higher in the Northwest and Rocky Mountains, and 18% higher in the South. The Southwest had a 13% increase, while the Northeast saw a 7% increase.
After accounting for factors such as age, race, and cardiovascular disease, these regional differences remained consistent. This suggests that access to medical care may play a role in the varying dementia rates across regions.
Senior author Kristine Yaffe emphasizes the need for region-specific prevention and intervention efforts. She notes that further research is needed to identify the underlying factors driving these differences, including quality of education, early life conditions, and environmental exposures.
Source: https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2025/06/430141/how-high-your-dementia-risk-it-might-depend-where-you-live