Newswise — Alzheimer’s disease is more common in rural Appalachian Ohio communities than in other rural areas in the state – raising concerns about access to early, specialized care in a region where many residents face struggles getting the medical care they need, a new study has found.
Researchers from The Ohio State University examined 11 years of federal Medicare data, ending in 2017, to compare the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders in Appalachian Ohio with other parts of the state. The research was published online this month in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
“Those who live in rural Appalachia, in particular, are both much more disadvantaged on the whole from a socioeconomic perspective and have a higher burden of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders compared to those who live elsewhere. It’s a double whammy,” said
