Dementia regional gaps found among US veterans

A large study of older veterans finds regional differences in dementia rates, with higher incidence in the Southeast and lower in the Mid-Atlantic after adjustments.

Dementia Incidence Varies Across US Regions Among Veterans

A study of 1,268,599 veterans aged 65 and older who received care in the Veterans Health Administration between 1999 and 2021 found that dementia incidence varied by region. The Mid-Atlantic region had the lowest rate at 11.2 cases per 1,000 person-years, while the Southeast showed the highest rate at 14.0. Diagnoses were identified through medical records and the analysis adjusted for age, race, health status, and rurality. The population was categorized into 10 regions based on zip codes. The authors emphasize that the study does not prove a cause and that regional labels may reflect multiple underlying factors.

A key limitation is that the study relies on VHA data and the estimated population is mostly male. Only about 2 percent of participants were women, which limits how the findings apply to women or to non veterans. The authors also note that unmeasured factors such as local health care access or social determinants could influence the regional gaps. Still, the results point to a need for tailored memory care planning and more research to identify what drives regional differences within the health system.

Even after adjusting for known factors, regional gaps in dementia risk persist. This suggests that factors beyond age and traditional health indicators play a role, such as access to memory clinics, community support, and regional health practices.

The findings raise practical questions for policymakers and health leaders. If memory care needs differ by region, then one size fits all programs may under serve high risk areas while over allocating resources elsewhere. The study also highlights the limits of using a single patient group to draw broader conclusions about the general population and underscores the importance of diverse research samples.

Highlights

Memory care policy will need local insight as much as national data.