New 2026 data highlights the growing need for research, brain health education and support for Arizona families and caregivers
Behind every Alzheimer’s statistic is a person.
There is the individual navigating a diagnosis, the spouse taking on a new role as caregiver, the adult daughter balancing work and family while helping a parent, and the friends and neighbors learning how best to offer support.
New data from the Alzheimer’s Association 2026 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report shows just how significant that impact has become in Arizona.
According to the report, 151,500 Arizona residents age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease. In 2024, Alzheimer’s was responsible for 2,678 deaths statewide, making it Arizona’s sixth-leading cause of death. Alzheimer’s deaths in the state increased 156.3 percent between 2000 and 2024.
But the disease’s reach extends far beyond those diagnosed.
Arizona’s Caregivers Carry an Enormous Load
An estimated 242,000 Arizonans provide unpaid care for someone with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. Together, they provide approximately 379 million hours of unpaid care, valued at an extraordinary $9.7 billion.
Caregiving can take a physical and emotional toll, too. Arizona data shows 59.5 percent of caregivers have chronic health conditions, 26.5 percent report depression and 17.4 percent are in poor physical health.
At the same time, Arizona faces challenges in building the workforce necessary to meet future demand. The state had 115 geriatricians in 2021, with an estimated 190.4 percent increase needed to meet projected demand by 2050. Arizona will also need substantially more home health and personal care aides in the years ahead.
These figures demonstrate why the Alzheimer’s Association’s mission encompasses far more than finding a cure.
The organization works to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Its work includes education, advocacy, local programs, caregiver resources, online tools and a free 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900.
Arizonans Want to Protect Their Brain Health
The Association’s 2026 report also explored how Americans think about brain health.
A nationwide survey of more than 3,800 adults age 40 and older found that nearly everyone surveyed considers brain health at least as important as physical health. Yet just 9 percent said they know a lot about how to maintain their brain health. More than two-thirds reported worrying about their brain health or developing dementia.
There is also a gap between knowing healthy habits are beneficial and understanding their possible relationship to dementia risk. Three-quarters of respondents recognized behaviors such as diet, exercise and sleep as important for brain health, but fewer than half strongly connected those behaviors with reducing their risk of Alzheimer’s or other dementias.
That creates an important opportunity for education.
The Alzheimer’s Association offers resources for people at virtually every point in the journey—from those interested in protecting their brain health to families navigating a new diagnosis and caregivers looking for practical support.
Explore Alzheimer’s Association resources and support
There is still much work to be done. But greater awareness, stronger support for caregivers, continued research and open conversations about brain health can help Arizona families navigate what is often one of the most challenging journeys of their lives.
And no one has to navigate that journey alone.