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

Stacker

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 Oklahoma 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: 10.6%
- 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.

#50. Woodward County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 10.6%
- 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.

#49. Marshall County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 10.7%
- 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.

#46. Cimarron County (tie)
RaksyBH // Shutterstock

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 10.7%
- 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.

#46. Coal County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 10.7%
- 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.

#46. Ellis County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 10.7%
- 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.

#44. Garvin County (tie)
JohnDSmith // Shutterstock

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 10.7%
- 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.

#44. McIntosh County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 10.7%
- 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.

#43. Payne County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 10.8%
- 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.

#41. Cotton County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 10.8%
- 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.

#41. Roger Mills County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 10.8%
- 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—or 50 people—of the estimate.

#40. McCurtain County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 10.8%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 1,000 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.

#38. Pittsburg County (tie)
Mohammad Fuad Anshori // Shutterstock

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 10.8%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 1,000 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.

#38. Stephens County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 10.9%
- 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.

#37. Dewey County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 10.9%
- 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.

#34. Craig County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 10.9%
- 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.

#34. Noble County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 10.9%
- 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.

#34. Pushmataha County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 10.9%
- 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.

#33. Beckham County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 10.9%
- 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. Pontotoc County
Charles Lemar Brown // Shutterstock

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.0%
- 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.

#31. Jefferson County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.0%
- 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—or 50 people—of the estimate.

#30. Okfuskee County
Holly Cates // Shutterstock

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.0%
- 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 of the estimate.

#29. Seminole County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.0%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 900 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.

#28. Carter County
Valiik30 // Shutterstock

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.0%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 10,900 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points—or 550 people—of the estimate.

#27. Tulsa County
Andrey Bayda // Shutterstock

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.1%
- 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.

#26. Washita County
RaksyBH // Shutterstock

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.1%
- 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.

#24. Choctaw County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.1%
- 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 of the estimate.

#24. Hughes County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.1%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 1,000 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.

#23. Kay County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.2%
- 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.

#22. Alfalfa County
Roberto Galan // Shutterstock

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.3%
- 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.

#20. Grant County (tie)
RaksyBH // Shutterstock

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.3%
- 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.

#20. Harper County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.3%
- 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.

#18. Major County (tie)
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.3%
- 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.

#18. Nowata County (tie)
Sabrina Janelle Gordon // Shutterstock

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.3%
- 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.

#17. Kingfisher County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.3%
- 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 50 people—of the estimate.

#16. Osage County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.3%
- 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.

#15. Garfield County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.3%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 1,300 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.

#14. Muskogee County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.4%
- 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 of the estimate.

#13. Beaver County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.4%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 13,100 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points—or 700 people—of the estimate.

#12. Oklahoma County
Richard G Smith // Shutterstock

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.5%
- 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.

#11. Blaine County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.5%
- 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.

#10. Okmulgee County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.5%
- 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 100 people—of the estimate.

#9. Washington County
SevenMaps // Shutterstock

- 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 0.8 percentage points of the estimate.

#8. Tillman County
Canva

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.6%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 500 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points of the estimate.

#7. Custer County
RaksyBH // Shutterstock

- Share of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 11.6%
- Number of 65+ population with Alzheimer's: 1,900 people
*These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage points—or 100 people—of the estimate.

#6. Comanche 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 0.8 percentage points—or 50 people—of the estimate.

#5. Jackson County
Kit Leong // Shutterstock

- 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.

#4. Woods County
Canva

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

#3. Latimer County
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 0.8 percentage points of the estimate.

#2. Harmon 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 0.7 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. Greer County
fizkes // Shutterstock