Seniors in these Georgia counties have the highest Alzheimer's rates

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State and detailed county-level estimates show vast disparities in the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease based on racial and socioeconomic factors. Older Americans, women, Black and Hispanic Americans, and those with lower education levels are at higher risk for developing Alzheimer's dementia, according to data from the Chicago Health and Aging Project, on which these estimates were based.

The East and Southeast regions of the U.S. were estimated to have the highest prevalence of Alzheimer's, particularly Maryland, New York, Florida, Mississippi, and Louisiana. In Maryland, nearly 30% of residents are Black, and a slightly higher share of the population is 85 and older compared to national numbers—substantial risk factors that earn it the #1 spot.

In addition to a high prevalence of the disease, Mississippi has the highest Alzheimer's mortality rate, largely due to having the worst-quality health care system in the country, Time reported.

Some of the most afflicted counties are home to Black and Hispanic populations in the South, low-income populations in Appalachia, and older adults in Florida, according to Time. Other studies have found that people in rural areas tend to be underdiagnosed or diagnosed in later stages of dementia, delaying or preventing potential treatments.

Read on to see where in Georgia has the highest prevalence of Alzheimer's, ranked by the share of the 65 and over population estimated to have the disease. Initial ties were broken by the number of people estimated to have Alzheimer's, but some ties may remain.

Alzheimer's rates by state
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- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.8%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 500 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.

#50. Burke County
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- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.8%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 600 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.

#49. Peach County
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- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.9%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 300 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.

#48. Pulaski County
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- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.9%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 600 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.

#47. Crisp County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.9%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 800 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.

#46. Ware County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.9%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 1,800 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points—or 100 people—of the estimate.

#45. Rockdale County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 13.0%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 200 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.

#44. Irwin County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 13.0%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 500 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.

#43. McIntosh County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 13.0%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 1,100 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points—or 100 people—of the estimate.

#42. Thomas County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 13.0%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 6,200 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points—or 300 people—of the estimate.

#41. Chatham County
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- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 13.1%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 200 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.

#40. Wilcox County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 13.1%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 300 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.

#39. Johnson County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 13.2%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 300 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.

#38. Twiggs County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 13.2%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 600 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.

#37. Meriwether County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 13.2%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 1,200 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.

#36. Laurens County
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- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 13.3%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 100 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.

#35. Quitman County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 13.3%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 200 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.

#34. Jenkins County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 13.3%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 600 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.

#33. Decatur County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 13.3%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 700 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points of the estimate.

#32. Sumter County
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- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 13.4%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 4,000 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points—or 200 people—of the estimate.

#31. Clayton County
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- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 13.5%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 200 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.

#30. Talbot County
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- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 13.5%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 300 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.

#29. Macon County
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- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 13.6%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 300 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.

#28. Wilkinson County
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- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 13.7%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 200 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.

#26. Taylor County (tie)
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- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 13.7%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 200 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points of the estimate.

#26. Turner County (tie)
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- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 13.7%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 400 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.

#25. Dooly County
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- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 13.8%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 400 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points of the estimate.

#24. Jefferson County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 13.8%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 500 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.

#23. Mitchell County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 14.0%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 200 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points of the estimate.

#22. Miller County
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- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 14.1%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 18,700 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points—or 850 people—of the estimate.

#21. Fulton County
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- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 14.2%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 200 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.

#20. Terrell County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 14.2%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 3,900 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points—or 150 people—of the estimate.

#19. Muscogee County
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- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 14.2%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 4,300 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points—or 200 people—of the estimate.

#18. Richmond County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 14.3%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 100 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.

#17. Clay County
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- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 14.3%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 400 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.

#16. Telfair County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 14.3%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 3,600 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points—or 150 people—of the estimate.

#15. Bibb County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 14.4%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 14,700 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points—or 700 people—of the estimate.

#14. DeKalb County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 14.5%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 500 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.

#13. Washington County
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- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 14.6%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 100 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points of the estimate.

#12. Webster County
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- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 14.8%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 100 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points of the estimate.

#11. Baker County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 14.8%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 300 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points of the estimate.

#9. Early County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 14.8%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 300 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.

#9. Wilkes County (tie)
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- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 15.1%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 100 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points of the estimate.

#8. Chattahoochee County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 15.1%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 200 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points of the estimate.

#7. Warren County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 15.3%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 2,300 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points—or 100 people—of the estimate.

#6. Dougherty County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 15.8%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 300 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points of the estimate.

#5. Hancock County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 16.0%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 100 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points of the estimate.

#4. Taliaferro County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 16.6%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 200 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points of the estimate.

#3. Stewart County
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- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 16.6%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 300 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points of the estimate.

#2. Randolph County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 17.0%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 200 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points of the estimate.

This story features data reporting by and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

#1. Calhoun County
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