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

• 38,000 people aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s in West Virginia.
• 13.6% of people aged 45 and older have subjective cognitive decline.
• 65,000 family caregivers bear the burden of the disease in West Virginia.
• 115 million hours of unpaid care provided by Alzheimer’s caregivers.
• $1.5 billion is the value of the unpaid care.
• $521 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 West Virginia: 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

The Commissioner of the Public Health Bureau issued a “Dear Colleague” letter to clinicians in the state, encouraging early detection and use of care planning services to help those with cognitive impairment.

State plan overview

In 2011, the West Virginia legislature directed and funded the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study the needs, challenges, and issues facing West Virginians living with Alzheimer’s disease and their families through the passage of Senate Concurrent Resolution 38. Three work groups spearheaded development of policy and program recommendations. The work groups included health care providers, families impacted by Alzheimer’s, public health officials, state legislators and researchers as well as representatives from local businesses, long-term care providers, state agencies and community organizations. In December 2011, the state Alzheimer’s plan, Make a Plan for Alzheimer's in West Virginia, 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.