Study Says Colorado Is the No. 16 State Most Impacted by Dementia

The Alzheimer's Association defines dementia as "a general term for loss of memory and other mental abilities severe enough to interfere with daily life."

In a 2021 report, the CDC revealed that one in eight Colorado residents aged 45 years and older struggle with some form of Subjective Cognitive Decline — and unfortunately, this trend appears to be worsening.

RELATED: Watch Out for the 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's Disease

A new study from Seniorly found that Colorado is the No. 16 state most impacted by dementia, noting that the Centennial State's mortality rate from Alzheimer's disease — the most common form of dementia — is 32.6 people per 100,000.

The website said that when taking this into account, along with the fact that Colorado's average annual Medicaid cost for dementia is $8,355, it expects Alzheimer's in Colorado to rise 21.1% by 2025.

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Seniorly reports that age, genetics, family history, and lifestyle choices are all factors of dementia's effect on Colorado.

"Overall, dementia's burden in the U.S. is substantial and growing," said Seniorly. "Future treatments may make progress in the fight against dementia-related disease, but for now, its economic, social, and emotional toll continue to shape the daily lives of millions of families across the country."

READ: Colorado Has One of the Highest Life Expectancies in the U.S.

Thankfully, there are steps Colorado residents can take to reduce their risk of dementia. Seniorly recommends practicing regular exercise, healthy eating, brain enrichment, and relationship development while getting quality sleep and avoiding smoking or binge drinking.

Find more resources by visiting the Alzheimer's Association's Colorado Chapter here.