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

  • 18,000 people aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s in South Dakota.
  • 6.0% of people aged 45 and older have subjective cognitive decline.
  • 26,000 family caregivers bear the burden of the disease in South Dakota.
  • 34 million hours of unpaid care provided by Alzheimer’s caregivers.
  • $709 million is the value of the unpaid care.
  • $182 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 South Dakota: 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

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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The South Dakota Department of Health served on the working group to develop the state's first Alzheimer's and other dementias plan.

The South Dakota Department of Health partnered with the Department of Human Services to launch a social media public awareness campaign about care planning tools for people living with dementia and their caregivers.

State plan overview

The South Dakota Alzheimer’s Disease State Plan Work Group was established in 2015 and expanded in April 2017 to a larger group of stakeholders, charged with creating the state’s response to Alzheimer’s. The Work Group conducted a comprehensive needs assessment and hosted town halls across the state, paid in part by a South Dakota Community Foundation Community Innovation Grant. In June 2018, the South Dakota State Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias was published. 

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.  

South Dakota Implementation
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No known public health action at this time.

 
South Dakota Resources
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Featured Resources

South Dakota Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Work Group South Dakota Needs Assessment: Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias

Risk Factors + Risk Reduction

Alzheimer's Association Fact Sheet: Subjective Cognitive Decline in South Dakota

BRFSS + Cognitive Decline

Alzheimer's Association Fact Sheet: Subjective Cognitive Decline in South Dakota (2019)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Infographic: Subjective Cognitive Decline in South Dakota (2019)
Alzheimer's Association Fact Sheet: Cognitive Decline in South Dakota (2015)
Alzheimer's Association Infographic: Cognitive Decline in South Dakota (2015)
Alzheimer's Association Fact Sheet: Cognitive Decline in South Dakota (2013)

BRFSS + Caregivers

Alzheimer's Association Fact Sheet: Dementia Caregiving in South Dakota (2016)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Infographic: Caregiving in South Dakota (2016)

Care and Advance Planning

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Infographic: Subjective Cognitive Decline in South Dakota