Indicator Gauge Icon Legend
Legend Colors
Red is bad, green is good, blue is not statistically different/neutral.
Compared to Distribution
the value is in the best half of communities.
the value is in the 2nd worst quarter of communities.
the value is in the worst quarter of communities.
Compared to Target
meets target;
does not meet target.
Compared to a Single Value
lower than the comparison value;
higher than the comparison value;
not statistically different from comparison value.
Trend
non-significant change over time;
significant change over time;
no change over time.
Compared to Prior Value
higher than the previous measurement period;
lower than the previous measurement period;
no statistically different change from previous measurement period.
Significantly better than the overall value
Significantly worse than the overall value
No significant difference with the overall value
No data on significance available
Alzheimer's Disease or Dementia: Medicare Population
This indicator is archived and is no longer being updated. Click to learn more
Why is this important?
Dementia is a non-specific syndrome that severely affects memory, language, complex motor skills, and other intellectual abilities seriously enough to interfere with daily life. Although dementia is much more common in the geriatric population (approximately 5 percent of those over 65 are said to be affected), it can occur in the younger population, in which case it is termed "early onset dementia."
Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia among the geriatric population, accounting for 50 to 80 percent of dementia cases. It is a progressive and irreversible disease where memory and cognitive abilities are slowly destroyed making it impossible to carry out even simple, daily tasks. Alzheimer's disease typically manifests after the age of 60. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Alzheimer's disease is the fifth leading cause of death among adults aged 65 and older. The Alzheimer's Association notes that the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer's disease is estimated to reach 7.1 million by 2025—a 40 percent increase from the estimated 5 million age 65 and older currently affected by the disease. Medicare costs for those with Alzheimer's and other dementias are estimated to be $107 billion dollars in 2013.
Measurement period: 2022
Maintained by: Conduent Healthy Communities Institute
Last update: December 2023
Graph Selections
Data Source
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Maintained By: Conduent Healthy Communities Institute (Methodology)
Filed under: Health / Older Adults, Health / Mental Health & Mental Disorders, Health Status, Adults, Older Adults, People with Disabilities