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The cost of dementia in the United States in 2026
Thunell J, Tysinger B, Baumgart M, Carrillo M, Crimmins E, Goldman D, Heun-Johnson H, Jacobson M, Joyce G, Leaf D, et al.. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 2026-06-24
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Introduction Comprehensive cost measurement is essential for an effective policy response to societal dementia costs. Methods Using dynamic microsimulation, the Health and Retirement Study, and other national data, we quantified the 2026 cost of dementia in the United States. Results In 2026, 5.7 million (95% confidence interval [CI] [5.6, 6.0]) US adults aged 51 and older are living with dementia, supported by 5.2 million (95% CI [4.9, 5.5]) care partners. Total costs are $818 billion (B, 95% CI [759, 866]), driven by quality-of-life losses for persons with dementia ($320B, 95% CI [269, 363]) and care partners ($15B 95% CI [6, 25]). Unpaid care ($237B, 95% CI [220, 253]), earnings losses ($23B), and out-of-pocket costs combined with quality-of-life losses account for 80% of costs and are borne by families. Governments cover 70% of healthcare costs ($222B, 95% CI [209, 237]). Discussion The costs of dementia fall on families, highlighting limited policy and work supports. Treatment innovation may increase medical costs but reduce caregiver burden and improve quality of life. Highlights The costs of dementia in the United States in 2026 are $818 billion. Quality-of-life losses are the largest driver of dementia's total burden. Individuals and families bear over three times the cost versus health systems. Methods enable analysis of treatment, care, and policy innovations on future costs.
Key findings
- Results In 2026, 5.7 million (95% confidence interval [CI] [5.6, 6.0]) US adults aged 51 and older are living with dementia, supported by 5.2 million (95% CI [4.9, 5.5]) care partners.
- Individuals and families bear over three times the cost versus health systems.
Why it matters
This modelling study estimates that in 2026, 5.7 million US adults aged 51 and older are living with dementia, with total costs of $818 billion. It found that individuals and families bear over three times the cost compared with health systems, and the authors note that treatment innovation may increase medical costs but reduce caregiver burden and improve quality of life.
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Study details
- Study designmodelling
- Effect sizeTotal US cost of dementia in 2026: $818 billion (95% CI $759-866 billion)
- Evidence strengthModerate
Limitations
Model-based estimates with assumptions about valuing quality-of-life losses and unpaid care time; authorship includes Alzheimer's Association staff; simulation inputs drawn from survey data with self-reported dementia measures.
How this study scored 49/100
Published in a leading specialty journal, and it is a computer model rather than new measurements. Scored zero for sample size, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record and free to read, so those were left out: it earned 46 of the 94 points we could judge it on, which is 49 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Alzheimer's & Dementia) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Alzheimer s & Dementia: journal h-index 228 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 3 / 12 | A computer model rather than new measurements |
| 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 | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 3 / 3 | Effect reported with a statistic (interval, p-value, ratio or similar) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| 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 | 1 / 5 | 1.0 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 9.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | OpenAlex's profile for last-listed author Julie Zissimopoulos holds only 5 work(s), too few to judge a track record — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of Southern California: institution h-index 1,521 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 42340126) |
| Free to read | — / 2 | Access not recorded — left out of this score |
| Points | 46 / 94 | Scored on 18 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 46 of the 94 points we could judge it on is 49 out of 100. |
| Total | 49 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
Full text: free to read — PubMed Central lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 10 Oct 2026).
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. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Thunell, J., Tysinger, B., Baumgart, M., Carrillo, M., Crimmins, E., Goldman, D., et al. (2026). The cost of dementia in the United States in 2026. Alzheimer's & Dementia. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.71480
Vancouver
Thunell J, Tysinger B, Baumgart M, Carrillo M, Crimmins E, Goldman D, et al. The cost of dementia in the United States in 2026. Alzheimer's & Dementia. 2026. doi:10.1002/alz.71480. PMID: 42340126.
BibTeX
@article{thunell2026-42340126,
author = {Thunell, J. and Tysinger, B. and Baumgart, M. and Carrillo, M. and Crimmins, E. and Goldman, D. and Heun-Johnson, H. and Jacobson, M. and Joyce, G. and Leaf, D. and others},
title = {{The cost of dementia in the United States in 2026}},
journal = {Alzheimer's \& Dementia},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1002/alz.71480},
pmid = {42340126},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.71480}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here. Showing 12 of 13.