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

  • 410,000 people aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's in New York.
  • 7.1% of people aged 45 and older have subjective cognitive decline.
  • 546,000 family caregivers bear the burden of the disease in New York.
  • 884 million hours of unpaid care provided by Alzheimer's caregivers.
  • $16 billion is the value of the unpaid care.
  • $19 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 York: 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 York, the State Department of Health oversees the Alzheimer's Disease Caregiver Support Initiative (ADCSI), a five-year initiative designed to support caregivers and people with dementia in the community using evidence-based strategies.

Read the evaluation of the first year of the initiative.

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

The New York State Coordinating Council for Services Related to Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias (Council) was established in 2007 by Public Health Law § 2004-a (Chapter 58 of the Laws of 2007, Part B). The Council was formed to facilitate interagency planning and policy-making, review specific agency initiatives for their impact on services related to the care of persons with dementia and their families, and provide a continuing forum for concerns and discussions related to the formulation of a comprehensive state policy for Alzheimer's disease.

The Council is charged with providing reports to the Governor and the Legislature every two years beginning in June 2009. The reports must set forth the Council's recommendations for state policy relating to dementia and include a review of services initiated and coordinated by public and private agencies to meet the needs of persons with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias and their families, this report provides a beginning to this review. New York’s first state Alzheimer’s plan, the Annual Report of the New York State Coordinating Council for Services Related to Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias in December 2009 with updated reports published in 2013, 2015, and 2017.

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 York Implementation
State:
Issue:

New York State Department of Health New York State Department of Health, through its partnership with the University of Albany, conducted an online training for health care providers: Determining Caregiver Needs and Well Being.
New York State Department of Health The New York State Health Commissioner sent a November 2016 ‘Dear Colleague’ letter, encouraging health care providers to “play their part in the early detection/diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias.” The letter highlights dementia prevalence data and various resources, including the NYS Alzheimer’s Disease Support Initiative
New York State Department of Health New York State Department of Health partnered with University of Albany to provide free CME online training for primary care physicians, along with informational resources and tools.
New York State Department of Health To address disparities, the New York State Department of Health funded a two-year referral and outreach demonstration project that primarily serves African-American and Hispanic communities

 
New York Resources
State:
Issue:

Health Care Providers

Grand Rounds: The Science of Aging and Alzheimer's New York State Department of Health

Risk Factors + Risk Reduction

Alzheimer's Association Fact Sheet: Subjective Cognitive Decline in New York

Caregivers + BRFSS

Alzheimer's Association Fact Sheet: Dementia Caregiving in New York
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Infographic: Caregiving in New York
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Infographic: Caregiving in New York (2018)

BRFSS + Cognitive Decline

Alzheimer's Association Fact Sheet: Cognitive Decline in New York (2020)
Alzheimer's Association Fact Sheet: Dementia Caregiving in New York (2019)
Alzheimer's Association Fact Sheet: Subjective Cognitive Decline in New York (2019)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Infographic: Caregiving in New York (2019)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Infographic: Subjective Cognitive Decline in New York (2019)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Infographic: Subjective Cognitive Decline in New York (2018) (2018)
Alzheimer's Association Fact Sheet: Cognitive Decline in New York (2016)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Infographic: Cognitive Decline in New York (2016)
Alzheimer's Association Fact Sheet: Cognitive Decline in New York (2015)
Alzheimer's Association Infographic: Cognitive Decline in New York (2015)
Alzheimer's Association Fact Sheet: Cognitive Decline in New York (2013)
Alzheimer's Association Fact Sheet: Cognitive Decline in New York (2011)

BRFSS + Caregivers

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Infographic: Caregiving in New York (2018) (2018)
Alzheimer's Association Fact Sheet: Dementia Caregiving in New York (2017)
Alzheimer's Association Fact Sheet: Dementia Caregiving in New York (2016)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Infographic: Caregiving in New York (2016)
Alzheimer's Association Fact Sheet: Dementia Caregiving in New York (2015)

Care and Advance Planning

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Infographic: Subjective Cognitive Decline in New York
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Infographic: Caregiving in New York (2018)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Infographic: Subjective Cognitive Decline in New York (2018)

Additional Resources

Grand Rounds: The Science of Aging and Alzheimer's New York State Department of Health
Grand Rounds: The Science of Aging and Alzheimer's New York State Department of Health