NORC is a research organization that is part of the University of Chicago.
What you need to know
The study was made to understand how many beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare in 2020 had diagnostic evidence of dementia and where they live, according to a Sept. 3 news release.
Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) are brain conditions that impair brain functioning, causing progressive deterioration in memory, language processing, and bodily function, ultimately resulting in death, according to the study's website.
“We developed the Dementia DataHub to provide the research community and the public with data visualizations and tools to explore the epidemiology of diagnosed dementia in the United States,” David Rein, program area director in NORC’s Public Health Analytics Program Area, said via news release.
Dig deeper
As part of the study, NORC launched an interactive database called the Dementia DataHub that details geographic and demographic data on different types of diagnosed dementia in Medicare beneficiaries at the national, state and county level.
Texas has one of the highest burdens of “highly likely” dementia among its Medicare beneficiaries at 8.1%, according to the Dementia DataHub.
According to the Dementia DataHub, the prevalence of “highly likely dementia” across Houston-area counties is:
- 7.6% in Brazoria County
- 7.1% in Fort Bend County
- 7.5% in Galveston County
- 7.9% in Harris County
- 7.1% in Montgomery County
- 7.2% Waller County
View the Dementia DataHub or learn more about the study by visiting www.dementiadatahub.org.
