BISMARCK – As the number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease tops more than seven million for the first time, nearly four in five Americans would want to know if they had Alzheimer’s disease before it impacted their lives. They also want treatment, even if it comes with risks, as long as it slows the progression of the disease. These are among the insights uncovered in the 2025 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures Report recently released by the Alzheimer’s Association.

The 2025 Facts and Figures report provides an in-depth look at the latest national and state-by-state statistics on Alzheimer’s prevalence, mortality, dementia care workforce, costs of care and impact on caregivers. New disease-related statistics for North Dakota revealed the following:

– 13,700 residents aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s.

– Deaths from Alzheimer’s disease total 336.

– 11% of adults over the age of 65 are living with Alzheimer’s.

– The number of North Dakota residents serving as unpaid family caregivers is 19,000.

– Total hours of unpaid care provided is 26 million.

– Total value of unpaid care is $502 million.

“This year’s report finds that the impact of Alzheimer’s on North Dakota residents and families is significant,” said Susan Parriott, Alzheimer’s Association regional vice president and Minnesota North Dakota Chapter CEO, said in a news release. “Now more than ever, we need to work to advance disease research and treatments that can slow the current trajectory and help all North Dakota families affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementia.”

According to the release, the new report shows prevalence, disease-related deaths and cost of caring for those living with Alzheimer’s are rising across the country. Among the findings:

– 7.2 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease, up from seven million in the same report last year.

– Total annual costs of caring for people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias (excluding unpaid care) is projected to be $384 billion in 2025, up from $360 billion in 2024.

– Nearly 12 million family members and friends provide 19.2 billion hours of unpaid care, valued at an additional $413 billion.

– Deaths due to Alzheimer’s disease more than doubled between 2000 and 2022.

An accompanying special report, American Perspectives on Early Detection of Alzheimer’s disease in the Era of Treatment, highlights a national survey of more than 1,700 U.S. adults, aged 45 and older, examining awareness and attitudes of early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, tests used to help diagnose Alzheimer’s and treatments that can slow progression of the disease.

Among the findings revealed in the new survey:

– Nearly four in five Americans (79%) would want to know if they had Alzheimer’s disease before having symptoms or before symptoms interfere with daily activities.

– More than nine in 10 Americans would definitely or probably want a simple test (e.g. blood-based biomarker test) if it was available.

– More than nine in 10 Americans (92%) would probably or definitely want to take a medication that could slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease following an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

– Nearly three in five Americans (58%) said they would accept a moderate or high level of risk with taking an anti-amyloid medication to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Nearly one in four Americans (22%) are willing to accept high risk.

– 44% worry that insurance won’t cover future care and treatment.

– Four in five Americans (81%) believe new treatments to stop the progression of Alzheimer’s will emerge in the next decade, and 66% believe new treatments to prevent Alzheimer’s will be available soon.

“The survey really underscores the critical need for advancing the two FDA-approved dementia treatments approved in the last two years. We need to make sure everyone knows they are available, and that we’re making early diagnosis easier and more accessible,” Parriott said in the release. “We’re encouraged to see that people want to be proactive in addressing cognitive concerns. That’s a real positive because early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s offers the best opportunity for care, management and treatment of the disease.”