Each year, the Alzheimer’s Association publishes Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures, a national report that brings together current research, statistics, and public health information about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. This report is an important resource for families, caregivers, health professionals, senior living providers, and anyone who wants to better understand the growing impact of dementia in the United States in 2026.

The report describes itself as a statistical resource for U.S. data related to Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia. It includes background information on Alzheimer’s disease, along with sections on prevalence, mortality, caregiving, the dementia care workforce, and the use and cost of health care and long-term care services. This year’s Special Report focuses on brain health in America and how people understand, prioritize, and act on the desire to support cognitive health across the lifespan.

For families, this report matters because it puts individual experiences into a larger context. A loved one’s memory loss, the strain of caregiving, or the need to consider memory care can feel deeply personal — and it is. But the report also shows that these challenges affect millions of families across the country.

Key Findings From the 2026 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures Report

Alzheimer’s continues to affect millions of older adults

The report estimates that 7.4 million Americans age 65 and older are living with clinical Alzheimer’s dementia in 2026. That means about 1 in 9 people age 65 and older has clinical Alzheimer’s dementia. The percentage increases sharply with age: 5.2% of people ages 65 to 74, 13.8% of people ages 75 to 84, and 35.8% of people age 85 and older.

Dementia care carries a major national cost

The report estimates that total payments in 2026 for health care, long-term care, and hospice for people living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias will reach $409 billion, not including the value of unpaid caregiving. Medicare and Medicaid are expected to cover $263 billion, or 64% of those payments, while out-of-pocket spending is expected to reach $103 billion.

Family caregivers provide an enormous amount of unpaid care

Caregiving remains one of the report’s most important themes. The report covers the number of family caregivers, hours of care provided, the economic value of unpaid care, and the physical, emotional, and financial effects of caregiving. In 2025, the economic value of unpaid dementia caregiving in the United States was estimated at $446.3 billion.

Alzheimer’s care requires a broad workforce

The report also looks at the dementia care workforce, including the professionals who diagnose, treat, care for, and support people living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. This matters because dementia care is not one-dimensional. Families may need support from physicians, nurses, direct care workers, therapists, social workers, pharmacists, and community-based services as needs change over time.

What Stands Out in 2026

Brain health takes center stage

One especially important part of the 2026 report is the Special Report, Brain Health in America: Understanding and Supporting Lifelong Cognitive Health. This section shifts the conversation from dementia as only a later-life concern to brain health as something shaped across the lifespan.

The report notes that cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, and other causes of dementia are not an inevitable part of aging. It identifies modifiable factors connected to lower risk of cognitive decline and dementia, including physical activity, cognitive engagement, sleep, diet and nutrition, blood pressure, diabetes management, smoking, traumatic brain injury, education, and weight.

Lifestyle habits may support cognitive health

The U.S. POINTER study is another noteworthy highlight. The report describes a brain health “recipe” focused on physical exercise, health monitoring, nutrition, and cognitive exercise. In the study, both structured and self-guided lifestyle programs were associated with improved cognitive function after two years, with the structured group showing greater improvement.

People value brain health, but many lack clear guidance

The Special Report shows a gap between interest and information. Among adults age 40 and older, 90% rated their brain health as good to excellent, yet only 9% said they know a lot about ways to maintain brain health.

That gap matters because people appear interested in brain health but may not know where to begin. The report found that 66% prefer to learn about brain health from their health care provider, but only 14% have discussed maintaining brain health with a physician, and only 11% have discussed ways to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

Midlife is an important window for brain health

The Special Report also emphasizes midlife as an important period for long-term cognitive health. That is a meaningful point for families because brain health should not be treated only as a concern after memory loss appears. Habits, health conditions, and support systems earlier in life can influence well-being later on.

Why Families Should Read the Full Report

For families caring for someone with memory loss, the report offers more than statistics. It helps explain why early conversations, care planning, caregiver support, and access to knowledgeable dementia care are so important.

It also reinforces a message we see often at The Heritage of Overland Park: dementia affects the whole family. Care needs can grow over time, and support often becomes necessary not because a family has failed, but because the disease has changed what daily life requires.

The full 2026 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report is worth reading for anyone who wants to better understand Alzheimer’s disease, dementia care, brain health, and the national picture behind these deeply personal experiences.

We encourage families, caregivers, and community members to download and read the complete report here: 2026 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures