Alzheimer’s disease is a growing public health crisis in New Jersey. The impact of Alzheimer’s is projected to rise, and the most recent data show:
- 185,000 people aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s in New Jersey.
- 8.7% of people aged 45 and older have subjective cognitive decline.
- 272,000 family caregivers bear the burden of the disease in New Jersey.
- 494 million hours of unpaid care provided by Alzheimer’s caregivers.
- $10.8 billion is the value of the unpaid care.
- $2.6 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 New Jersey: 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 Indian Country 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 New Jersey, the Minority and Multicultural Health division of the Department of Health hosted a brain health event in conjunction with African-American Brain Health Initiative and Rutgers University-Newark at a classic car show to reach older men and educate them on brain health, reducing risk of Alzheimer’s and opportunities to participate in aging research.
Read more about the classic car event.
Explore public health action against Alzheimer’s
Learn more about areas essential to addressing Alzheimer's from a public health perspective.
See Public Health Topics
State plan overview
In June 2011, the New Jersey Alzheimer’s Disease Study Commission was established with the enactment of Senate Bill 125 to study the current and future impact and incidence of Alzheimer’s disease within the state. The Commission was tasked with making recommendations for improving, expanding and improving services within the state to meet the needs of those affected by Alzheimer’s and included representatives from state agencies, direct service providers, long-term care providers, community organizations and the faith communities as well as state legislators, caregivers and those living with the disease. The New Jersey Alzheimer’s Disease Study Commission Report was published in August 2016.
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.
New Jersey Implementation
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| New Jersey Department of Health |
Department of Health, Office of Minority and Multicultural Health partnered with the Alzheimer's Association to conduct a brain health event in conjunction with African-American Brain Health Initiative (AABHI) and Rutgers University-Newark. AABHI promoted healthy aging among older African Americans at the Newark Classic Car Show (April 2017) by teaching older men about brain health, potential ways to reduce the risk of cognitive decline, and how to participate in aging research at RU-Newark. |
New Jersey Resources
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