Myth: 50% of Americans Over Sixty Have Some Kind of Dementia

Recently, I had dinner with a very intelligent, older woman who told me point-blank that
in the United States, 50% of people over sixty have dementia. That shocked me.

I had no idea a whopper of a myth like this was floating around, especially when facts firmly dispute this. According to the Chicago Health and Aging Project (CHAPS) and data from the US Census in 2016, 11% or 5.2 million people over sixty-five suffered from dementia, including Alzheimer’s. In 2021 the Alzheimer’s Association reports that number has only slightly increased to 11.3%. What so saddens me is the irresponsibility of “news sources” who throw out these false and crazy numbers, planting damaging seeds in the minds of older adults that they have one in two chances of getting dementia. The reality is one in almost nine folks might develop dementia.

Here are a few blogs I have shared with ways to help lower your risk. Have a look:

Dancing May Be the Best Aerobic Exercise to Reduce Dementia

Want a Sharper Memory?

Your Brain on Food