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Regional Differences in Dementia Incidence Among US Veterans
Christina S. Dintica, Amber L. Bahorik, Feng Xia, W. John Boscardin, Kristine S. Yaffe. JAMA Neurology, 2025-06-09
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Among the 1 268 599 participants (mean age, 73.9 [SD, 6.1] years; n = 25 335 [2%] female), dementia incidence rates per 1000 person-years were lowest in the Mid-Atlantic (11.2; 95% CI, 11.1-11.4) and highest in the Southeast (14.0; 95% CI, 13.8-14.2). Compared with the Mid-Atlantic, the regions with the greatest demographically adjusted incidence included the Southeast (rate ratio [RR], 1.25; 95% CI, 1.22-1.28), Northwest (RR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.20-1.27), Rocky Mountains (RR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.20-1.26), South (RR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.15-1.20), Midwest (RR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.09-1.14), and South Atlantic (RR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.10-1.14); the remaining regions had similar (<10% difference) incidence. Additional adjustments for rurality and cardiovascular comorbidities and accounting for the competing risk of death produced similar results. Conclusions and Relevance: Among older adults in the VHA, dementia incidence varied significantly across US regions, independent of key covariates. These findings highlight the need for targeted health care planning, public health interventions, and policy development.
Key findings
- Among the 1 268 599 participants (mean age, 73.9 [SD, 6.1] years; n = 25 335 [2%] female), dementia incidence rates per 1000 person-years were lowest in the Mid-Atlantic (11.2; 95% CI, 11.1-11.4) and highest in the Southeast (14.0; 95% CI, 13.8-14.2).
- Compared with the Mid-Atlantic, the regions with the greatest demographically adjusted incidence included the Southeast (rate ratio [RR], 1.25; 95% CI, 1.22-1.28), Northwest (RR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.20-1.27), Rocky Mountains (RR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.20-1.26), South (RR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.15-1.20), Midwest (RR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.09-1.14), and South Atlantic (RR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.10-1.14); the remaining regions had similar (<10% difference) incidence.
- Additional adjustments for rurality and cardiovascular comorbidities and accounting for the competing risk of death produced similar results.
- Conclusions and Relevance: Among older adults in the VHA, dementia incidence varied significantly across US regions, independent of key covariates.
- These findings highlight the need for targeted health care planning, public health interventions, and policy development.
Why it matters
Among U.S. veterans, dementia incidence varied significantly by region, with the highest rates in the Southeast and lowest in the Mid-Atlantic, even after adjusting for demographic and health factors. This regional variation highlights the need for targeted healthcare planning and public health interventions.
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Study details
- Study designcohort study
- Participants25
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 54/100
Published in a leading specialty journal, and it is a cohort study following people over time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (JAMA Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | JAMA Neurology: journal h-index 235 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A cohort study following people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 25 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 2 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Kristine S. Yaffe: h-index 155 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of California, San Francisco: institution h-index 1,915 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40489088) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 54 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2025.1536
- PubMed: 40489088
- Original source →
- Free full text: PubMed Central →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Dintica, C. S., Bahorik, A. L., Xia, F., Boscardin, W. J., & Yaffe, K. S. (2025). Regional Differences in Dementia Incidence Among US Veterans. JAMA Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2025.1536
Vancouver
Dintica CS, Bahorik AL, Xia F, Boscardin WJ, Yaffe KS. Regional Differences in Dementia Incidence Among US Veterans. JAMA Neurology. 2025. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2025.1536. PMID: 40489088.
BibTeX
@article{dintica2025-40489088,
author = {Dintica, Christina S. and Bahorik, Amber L. and Xia, Feng and Boscardin, W. John and Yaffe, Kristine S.},
title = {{Regional Differences in Dementia Incidence Among US Veterans}},
journal = {JAMA Neurology},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1001/jamaneurol.2025.1536},
pmid = {40489088},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2025.1536}
}
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