Memory Care Facts and Figures
Annual cost of dementia in the U.S. 1
$
300
B
Americans affected by dementia in 2025 2
Times per year persons with memory care/issues end up in emergency care 3
M
Types of Dementia
Alzheimer’s disease
- Most common cause of dementia (≈60–70%)
- Gradual memory loss, confusion, language problems
- Caused by abnormal protein buildup (amyloid plaques and tau tangles)
Vascular dementia
- Second most common
- Caused by reduced blood flow to the brain (often after strokes or small vessel disease)
- Symptoms may include impaired judgment, slowed thinking, and attention problems
- Often progresses in steps, not smoothly
Lewy body dementia
- Caused by abnormal protein deposits called Lewy bodies
- Features:
- Fluctuating attention and alertness
- Visual hallucinations
- Parkinson-like movement symptoms
- Closely related to Parkinson’s disease dementia
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD)
- Affects the frontal and temporal lobes
- Often occurs at a younger age (40s–60s)
- Early symptoms include:
- Personality and behavior changes
- Poor judgment
- Language difficulties
- Memory may be relatively preserved early on
Mixed dementia
- A combination of more than one type (commonly Alzheimer’s + vascular dementia)
- Very common in older adults
- Symptoms reflect features of each underlying condition
Alzheimer’s Disease by the Numbers
How an aging population will come to rely more and more on mental health services in the coming years
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting more than 7 million Americans today—and that number is expected to nearly double by 2050. The impact extends far beyond those diagnosed, placing heavy emotional and financial strain on families, caregivers, and the healthcare system. This fact sheet highlights key statistics on prevalence, costs of care, caregiving, and demographic disparities to give a clear picture of the challenge ahead
1. Zissimopoulos , J., & Goldman, D. (2025, April 23). The Cost of Dementia in 2025 – April 23, 2025. USC Leonard D. Schaeffer Institute for Public Policy & Government Service. https://schaeffer.usc.edu/research/the-cost-of-dementia-in-2025/
2. Doctrow, B. (2025, February 18). Risk and future burden of dementia in the United States. National Institutes of Health. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/risk-future-burden-dementia-united-states
3. Gerlach, L., Davis, M., Bynum, J., & Martindale, J. (2023, July 24). Dementia becomes an emergency 1.4 million times a year. Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation . https://ihpi.umich.edu/news-events/news/dementia-becomes-emergency-14-million-times-year
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For other ways to support the Foundation, please contact us here:
dr.vyas@nayanavyasfoundation.org