36 | JANUARY 25 • 2024 

Alzheimer’s dementia — 
in all 3,142 U.S. counties 
— were reported at AAIC 
2023. For counties with 
a population of more 
than 10,000 people age 
65 and older, the highest 
Alzheimer’s prevalence rates 
are in:
• Miami-Dade County, 
Fla. (16.6%)
• Baltimore City, Md. 
(16.6%)
• Bronx County, N.Y. 
(16.6%)
• Prince George’s County, 
Md. (16.1%)
• Hinds County, Miss. 
(15.5%)
Certain characteristics of 
these counties may explain 
the higher prevalence, 
including older age and a 
higher percentage of Black 
and Hispanic residents, 
which are communities 
disproportionately 
impacted by Alzheimer’s 
disease. According to the 
Alzheimer’s Association, 
these statistics can help 
officials determine the 
burden on the health care 
system and pinpoint areas 
for culturally sensitive 
caregiver training.

GUT HEALTH
Chronic constipation is 
associated with poor cogni-
tive function. 
Approximately 16% of the 
world’s population strug-
gles with constipation. This 
year, researchers reported 
that less frequent bowel 
movements were associated 
with significantly worse 
cognitive function.
People in the study with 
bowel movements every 
three days or more had 
worse memory and think-
ing equal to three years 
of cognitive aging. These 
results stress the impor-
tance of clinicians discuss-
ing gut health with their 
older patients.
To learn more about 
Alzheimer’s and dementia 
research, plus available care 
and support — and to join 
the cause or make a dona-
tion — visit the Alzheimer’s 
Association at www.alz.org.
While there is still much 
to learn about Alzheimer’s, 
2023 was a year of discov-
ery, giving researchers and 
families impacted by the 
disease hope for the year 
ahead. 

continued from page 34

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