The number of commercially insured Americans ages 30 to 64 diagnosed with early-onset dementia or Alzheimer’s disease increased by 200 percent from 2013 to 2017. The average age of a person living with either form of dementia is 49. 

The findings came from a new Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association report, “Early-Onset Dementia and Alzheimer's Rates Grow for Younger Americans,” part of the Blue Cross Blue Shield, The Health of America Report^® series. 

In South Carolina, Alzheimer’s is the sixth-leading cause of death, according to the Alzheimer's Association. South Carolinians also face challenges with treatment, as 80 percent of the state is rural and lacks proper care for individuals with cognitive decline. 

Taylor Wilson, director of state policy for the Alzheimer’s Association South Carolina Chapter, discusses the status of treatment in the state and challenges facing South Carolinians.

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