Alzheimer’s disease is a growing public health crisis in Illinois. The impact of Alzheimer’s is projected to rise, and the most recent data show:

• 251,000 people aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s in Illinois.
• 14.9% of people aged 45 and older have subjective cognitive decline.
• 316,000 family caregivers bear the burden of the disease in Illinois.
• 488 million hours of unpaid care provided by Alzheimer’s caregivers.
• $12.4 billion is the value of the unpaid care.
• $2.3 billion is the cost of Alzheimer’s to the state Medicaid program.

These numbers show that a public health approach is necessary to lessen the burden and enhance the quality of life for those living with cognitive impairment and their families.

Learn more about Illinois: Alzheimer’s Statistics (PDF), Cognitive Decline (PDF), Dementia Caregiving (PDF), Risk Factors (PDF), County-Level Alzheimer's Prevalence (PDF)

Tribes in your state

Use the HBI Road Map for American Indian and Alaska Native Peoples to start conversations with tribal leaders on public health actions that can be taken to support brain health and caregivers. Find tribal leaders and federally recognized tribes in your state: Tribal Leaders Directory.

Public health spotlight

In Illinois, the Department of Public Health is working to incorporate messages about the importance of early detection and diagnosis of dementia into existing public health campaigns.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IL DPH) provides training opportunities on dementia for all residential and home- and community-based direct care workers. IL DPH actively surveys annual worker compliance.

State plan overview

Illinois publishes an updated Alzheimer’s state plan every three years pursuant to the Alzheimer’s Disease Assistance Act (410 ILCS 405). The Act charged the Illinois Department of Public Health to create an Advisory Committee comprised of persons experienced in Alzheimer’s disease research, professional caregivers, members of advocacy organizations, persons living with Alzheimer’s, and family members of those living with the disease. In 2012, the Act was amended to drive the next iteration of the state plan toward dementia-capability. In December 2016, the Alzheimer’s Disease Illinois State Plan: 2017-2020 Report and Recommendations was released. The latest update was released in September 2020 — Alzheimer’s Disease Illinois State Plan: 2020-2023 Report and Recommendations.

Resources for action

State and local public health agencies around the country are taking action against Alzheimer’s by implementing the Healthy Brain Initiative: State and Local Road Map for Public Health, 2023–2027. Public health practitioners can learn by example and find resources to help guide their response below.