Alzheimer’s disease is a growing public health crisis in Oklahoma. The impact of Alzheimer’s is projected to rise, and the most recent data show:
- 71,000 people aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s in Oklahoma.
- 14% of people aged 45 and older have subjective cognitive decline.
- 108,000 family caregivers bear the burden of the disease in Oklahoma.
- 189 million hours of unpaid care provided by Alzheimer’s caregivers.
- $3 billion is the value of the unpaid care.
- $611 million 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 Oklahoma: 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.
Tribal public health success story in Oklahoma: Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Department of Health: Education and Outreach for Increased Impact (PDF)
Public health spotlight
Explore public health action against Alzheimer’s
Learn more about areas essential to addressing Alzheimer's from a public health perspective.
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In Oklahoma, the Department of Health included brain awareness public service announcements (PSAs) in their statewide media outreach to increase healthy behaviors and enhance health education.In September 2020, the Oklahoma State Department of Health received a Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Program Award from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
State plan overview
In May 2008, the Task Force on the Effect of Alzheimer’s Disease was established pursuant to Senate Bill 2186. Tasked with examining the impact of Alzheimer’s disease and mapping a plan of action within the state, the Task Force included representatives from the private sector, community organizations and state agencies as well as caregivers, state legislators and individuals living with Alzheimer’s. In September 2009, The Final Report of the Task Force on the Effect of Alzheimer’s Disease in Oklahoma was published. In 2015, Governor Mary Fallin issued Executive Order 2015-32 to authorize an update to the state plan. The Oklahoma Alzheimer’s State Plan 2016 was published in February 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.
Oklahoma Implementation
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Oklahoma Resources
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