Seniors in these Kansas 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 Kansas 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
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.6%
- 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.

#50. Rice County (tie)
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- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.6%
- 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.

#49. Atchison County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.7%
- 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—or 50 people—of the estimate.

#48. Dickinson County
Stephanie L Bishop // Shutterstock

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.7%
- 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.

#47. Barton County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.8%
- 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.

#45. Jewell County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.8%
- 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.

#45. Rawlins County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.8%
- 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.

#43. Mitchell County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.8%
- 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.

#43. Thomas County (tie)
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- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.8%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 1,500 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points—or 100 people—of the estimate.

#42. Reno County
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- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.9%
- 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.

#39. Chautauqua County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.9%
- 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.

#39. Rush County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.9%
- 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.

#39. Scott County (tie)
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- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.9%
- 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.

#38. Harper County
WanderinNomadPhotography // Shutterstock

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.9%
- 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 of the estimate.

#37. Marshall County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.0%
- 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.

#35. Pawnee County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.0%
- 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.

#35. Russell County (tie)
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- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.0%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 500 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.8 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.

#34. Ford County
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- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.1%
- 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.

#33. Logan County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.1%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 700 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate.

#32. McPherson County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.2%
- 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.

#31. Lincoln County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.2%
- 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.

#30. Marion County
melissamn // Shutterstock

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.3%
- 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.

#28. Norton County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.3%
- 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.

#28. Stafford County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.3%
- 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.

#26. Cloud County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.3%
- 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.

#26. Pratt County (tie)
Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.3%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 300 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.9 percentage points of the estimate.

#25. Seward County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.4%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: Not available
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.9 percentage points of the estimate.

#24. Stanton County
barteverett // Shutterstock

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.4%
- 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—or 50 people—of the estimate.

#23. Hodgeman County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.4%
- 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.

#22. Geary County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.4%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 900 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.

#21. Harvey County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.5%
- 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.

#18. Graham County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.5%
- 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.

#18. Ness County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.5%
- 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.

#18. Osborne County (tie)
Michael Rosebrock // Shutterstock

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.6%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 100 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.9 percentage points of the estimate.

#15. Kearny County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.6%
- 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.

#15. Smith County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.6%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 100 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.9 percentage points of the estimate.

#15. Wichita County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.6%
- 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.

#14. Washington County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.7%
- 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.

#13. Gove County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.7%
- 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.

#12. Republic County
Lost_in_the_Midwest // Shutterstock

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.8%
- 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. Sheridan County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.9%
- 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. Clark County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.9%
- 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. Meade County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 12.9%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 100 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.8 percentage points of the estimate.

#8. Stevens County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 13.0%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: Not available
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points of the estimate.

#7. Greeley County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 13.1%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: Not available
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points of the estimate.

#6. Wallace County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 13.1%
- 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.

#3. Cheyenne County (tie)
melissamn // Shutterstock

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 13.1%
- 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.

#3. Decatur County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 13.1%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 100 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.8 percentage points of the estimate.

#3. Morton County (tie)
Wirestock Creators // Shutterstock

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 13.1%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 2,800 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.8 percentage points—or 150 people—of the estimate.

#2. Wyandotte County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 13.3%
- 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.

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

#1. Nemaha County
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