The Yaffe Group has published a new paper in JAMA Neurology that examines geographic differences in dementia incidence in older U.S. adults. The study found notably higher rates of dementia occurring in the Southeastern U.S., with 25% higher rates of dementia compared to the Mid-Atlantic, followed by elevated rates in Northwest and Rocky Mountain states (23% higher) and Southern states (18% higher). Regional differences remained after adjusting for potential confounders including age, race, cardiovascular disease, and rurality. Our findings emphasize the need to investigate drivers of these geographic differences as well as to develop potential region-specific dementia prevention and intervention efforts. 

Read the paper here and and UCSF's article on the paper here.