More than 7 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease, making it the most common form of dementia in the United States. Globally, roughly 55 million people have some form of dementia, and Alzheimer’s accounts for 60 to 70 percent of those cases.
Current Numbers in the US
The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that 7.4 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s in 2026. That number has climbed steadily over the past two decades, driven largely by the aging of the baby boomer generation. Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, responsible for more than 116,000 deaths per year.
Most people diagnosed are 65 or older, but Alzheimer’s isn’t exclusively a disease of old age. About 110 out of every 100,000 adults between ages 30 and 64 have younger-onset Alzheimer’s, a form of the disease that can begin as early as a person’s 30s or 40s. While those cases represent a small fraction of the total, they carry unique challenges: people in their working years may lose the ability to hold a job, drive, or manage finances well before retirement age.
The Global Picture
The World Health Organization reported 57 million people living with dementia worldwide in 2021, and that number is climbing as populations age across every continent. Low- and middle-income countries bear a growing share of the burden, partly because life expectancy is rising in those regions while diagnostic and care infrastructure hasn’t kept pace. Because Alzheimer’s contributes to 60 to 70 percent of all dementia cases globally, the disease alone likely affects somewhere between 34 and 40 million people worldwide.
Women Are Affected at Nearly Twice the Rate
Almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women. That means Alzheimer’s is roughly twice as common in women as in men. Part of the explanation is straightforward: women live longer on average, and age is the single biggest risk factor for the disease. But longevity alone doesn’t fully account for the gap. Researchers are investigating whether hormonal changes during menopause, genetic differences in how the brain handles inflammation, and other biological factors play a role.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities
Alzheimer’s does not affect all communities equally. Black Americans are roughly 1.5 to 2 times as likely as white Americans to develop Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Higher rates of hypertension and diabetes in Black communities, both of which are risk factors for dementia, contribute to this disparity. Social determinants like access to healthcare, education quality, and chronic stress from systemic racism also play a role.
Paradoxically, Black Americans may be less likely to receive a formal diagnosis. A 15-year analysis of Alzheimer’s research participants found that Black participants had 35 percent lower odds of being diagnosed with dementia at their initial visit compared to white participants, even though national data shows they develop the disease at higher rates overall. That gap points to underdiagnosis, which can delay treatment and support. Data on Hispanic, Latino, and other underrepresented populations remains limited, making it harder to draw clear conclusions about prevalence in those groups.
The Financial Toll
Alzheimer’s is one of the most expensive conditions in the country. Research from the USC Schaeffer Center estimates the total economic burden of Alzheimer’s and related dementias will reach $781 billion in 2025. Of that, $232 billion covers direct medical and long-term care costs. Medicare picks up $106 billion, Medicaid covers $58 billion, and patients and their families pay $52 billion out of pocket.
Those numbers don’t fully capture the cost to families. Millions of Americans provide unpaid care to a loved one with Alzheimer’s, often while managing their own jobs and health. Caregivers frequently reduce their working hours or leave the workforce entirely, and they experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, and physical health problems than the general population.
Projected Growth Through 2050
The numbers are expected to climb sharply. By 2050, the Alzheimer’s Association projects that nearly 13 million Americans will be living with the disease, close to double today’s total. The increase is driven almost entirely by demographics: the 65-and-older population is growing rapidly, and the risk of Alzheimer’s rises steeply with age. Among people who reach 85, the likelihood of developing the disease jumps dramatically compared to those in their late 60s and 70s.
This projected growth has major implications for healthcare systems, government budgets, and families. More people with Alzheimer’s means more demand for memory care facilities, home health aides, and specialized medical services, all of which are already in short supply in many parts of the country.