Alzheimer’s deaths have more than doubled between 2000 and 2024, new report finds

A total of 116,022 people died from Alzheimer’s disease in 2024, a 134.1% increase from the 49,558 deaths reported in 2000. That is according to the 2026 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report published in an April edition of Alzheimer’s & Dementia. 

“This year’s Special Report highlights a critical moment to move beyond viewing brain health as an issue of older age and instead establish it as a lifelong priority and a shared responsibility across society,” authors said. “While individual behaviors matter, lasting progress depends on coordinated actions across workplaces, communities, health care systems and public health institutions to optimize the conditions that support cognitive function and well‑being.”

ias (ADRD) with regard to disease progression, types of dementias, risk factors as well as current treatments. It also discusses the prevalence of the disease, noting that 7.4 million older Americans now are living with Alzheimer’s disease. In total, the report estimates about 1 in 9 people (11%) age 65 and older have clinical Alzheimer’s dementia.

Health and long-term care costs for people living with dementia, meanwhile, are projected to reach $409 billion in 2026 and balloon to nearly $1 trillion in 2050, the report said. Of the $409 billion in estimated costs, Medicare and Medicaid are expected to cover $263 billion (64%) of these total healthcare and long-term care payments while out-of-pocket spending is expected to be $103 billion (25%) of total payments.

About half of all caregivers (48%) who provide help to older adults do so for someone with Alzheimer’s or another dementia, according to the report. Additionally, 83% of the hours of help provided to older adults with or without dementia in the United States come from family members, friends or other caregivers, who are often unpaid. The report estimates the value of the unpaid care provided by family caregivers at more than $5 billion in each of 28 states. 

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