Where you live may increase your risk of developing Alzheimer’s, new research says

Three counties on the east coast of the United States have the highest incidence of the disease

Getty

A New Study Says Where You Live May Increase Your Risk of Developing Alzheimer’s ://media.zenfs.com/en/people_218/0fea55f466a8ee838562217f42eb95dd” class=”caas-img”/>

Where you live can predict your likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

The disease is most prevalent in Miami-Dade County in Florida, Baltimore (which is its own county) in Maryland, and Bronx County in New York, according to for a new study which was presented at Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) in Amsterdam this month.

The study also looked at states and found that California, Florida and Texas had the highest number of people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, while Maryland (12.9%), New York (12.7%) and Mississippi (12.5%) had the highest percentage of diagnoses.

The data may be driven by the socioeconomic and demographic landscape of those locations, the study’s authors said.

Getty

More than 70% of Americans with Alzheimer’s disease are 75 or older.” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/G7E5BPkZyf5WeXyeCGxlVg–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MQ–/https://media .zenfs.com/en/people_218/8f2291bfc58a73fbe8cda75cc7a49059″ class=”caas-img”/>

Never miss a story – sign up PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to keep you updated on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“Counties/states with more people aged (over) 85 (years) and minorities will have a higher estimate of the incidence of Alzheimer’s dementia,” Dr. Klodian Dhana, assistant professor in the department of geriatrics and palliative medicine at Rush University Medical Center, said Health.

That CDC notes that by 2060, rates of Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias will increase sevenfold among Latino adults and fourfold among black adults.

Related: Famous Zookeeper Jack Hanna Can’t Remember Most of His Family Due to ‘Advanced’ Alzheimer’s: ‘Real Hard Some Days’

In addition, “Black and Latino adults … along with those from other racial and ethnic minority groups are more likely to face barriers to diagnosis, care, and services,” the CDC says.

“Our study suggests that Alzheimer’s dementia is differentially distributed across the United States,” Dhana said Health. “These data can help public health programs screen older adults for Alzheimer’s and other dementias and provide resources for the care of people with Alzheimer’s.”

The story continues

That Mayo Clinic estimates that 6.5 million people in the United States (65 and older) have the disease, with more than 70% of these patients being 75 and older. The progressive brain disease is the most common form of dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease is estimated to be the cause of up to 70% of the 55 million people worldwide with dementia. And even if there is no final reason for it National Institute for Aging says it’s a “combination of age-related changes in the brain along with genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors.”

Related: How Tony Bennett lived and sang for years with Alzheimer’s: ‘Singing Is Everything to Him’

And although there is no cure for the disease, a new medicineLeqembi, was just approved by the FDA, promising to help slow the progression of the disease – if taken while it is still in the milder, early stages.

“Alzheimer’s disease disables the lives of those who suffer from it immeasurably.” Billy Dunn saidMD, director of the Office of Neuroscience in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, “and (it) has devastating effects on loved ones.”

For more People news, be sure to Sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article about People.