Minnesota
Alzheimer’s disease is a growing public health crisis in Minnesota. The impact of Alzheimer’s is projected to rise, and the most recent data show:
- 102,000 people aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s in Minnesota.
- 8.9% of people aged 45 and older have subjective cognitive decline.
- 164,000 family caregivers bear the burden of the disease in Minnesota.
- 225 million hours of unpaid care provided by Alzheimer’s caregivers.
- $5.2 billion is the value of the unpaid care.
- $1 billion is the cost of Alzheimer’s to the state Medicaid program.
These numbers show that a public health approach is necessary to lessen the burden and enhance the quality of life for those living with cognitive impairment and their families.
Learn more about Minnesota: Alzheimer’s Statistics (PDF), Cognitive Decline (PDF), Dementia Caregiving (PDF), Risk Factors (PDF), County-Level Alzheimer's Prevalence (PDF)
Tribes in your state
Use the HBI Road Map for American Indian and Alaska Native Peoples to start conversations with tribal leaders on public health actions that can be taken to support brain health and caregivers. Find tribal leaders and federally recognized tribes in your state: Tribal Leaders Directory.
Public health spotlight
Explore public health action against Alzheimer’s
Learn more about areas essential to addressing Alzheimer's from a public health perspective.
In Minnesota, the Department of Health educated community health workers on the oral health needs of people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias by developing a curriculum and partnering with institutions that train these workers.
The Minnesota Department of Health partnered with local officials to ensure emergency preparedness plans at assisted living facilities adequately support the needs to people living with dementia in an emergency.
The Department of Health analyzed NORCs — naturally-occurring retirement communities — to identify high risk populations. Fact sheets with population data, resource mapping and community partners were developed to help guide and inform the local response.
In September 2020, the Minnesota Department of Health received an enhanced Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Program Award from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
State plan overview
In 2009 the Minnesota Legislature charged the Minnesota Board on Aging to establish the Alzheimer’s Disease Working Group (ADWG) and make recommendations for policies and programs that would prepare Minnesota for the future (2009 Session Law). This body included health care providers, family caregivers, researchers, representatives from state and local health and human services agencies, and Minnesotans living with the disease. The Alzheimer’s Disease Working Group gathered expert research and background information and solicited input from the general public. Preparing Minnesota for Alzheimer’s: the Budgetary, Social and Personal Impacts was published in January 2011 and presented to the Minnesota Legislature. In 2017, the Legislature called for a review and revision of this report; the Alzheimer's Disease Working Group, Legislative Report was published in January 2019.
Resources for action
State and local public health agencies around the country are taking action against Alzheimer’s by implementing the Healthy Brain Initiative: State and Local Road Map for Public Health, 2023–2027. Public health practitioners can learn by example and find resources to help guide their response below.
| Minnesota Department of Health | Minnesota Department of Health is partnering with residential care facilities to ensure emergency preparedness plans address the needs of people living with dementia |
| Minnesota Department of Health | Developed a framework to identify high-risk communities with data analyses, help prioritize resources, and expand cognitive health partnerships throughout the health department. |
| Minnesota Department of Health | Educated community health workers on the oral health needs of people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias by developing a curriculum and partnering with institutions that train these workers. |
| Minnesota Department of Health | Informed efforts to make communities more supportive of people living with dementia and their caregivers by integrating cognitive and caregiver surveillance data and related resources into county fact sheets; MDH prioritized counties that have a high proportion of at-risk older adults. |
| Chisago County Public Health Department | Chisago County Public Health Department supported training of local law enforcement officers and first responders on how to effectively communicate with and serve people with dementia. |
| City of Northfield (MN) | Conducted a community-wide assessment of community organizations, nursing homes, and health systems to identify needs and gaps in services/supports and to determine what existing resources could be used to fill gaps. |
| Department of Health | With legislative support, Minnesota Department of Health created new program focused on providing outreach and dementia education to African-Americans, African-born residents, and Asian and Hispanic populations. |
| Department of Human Services | Minnesota Department of Human Services established a common point of entry for reporting abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable adults statewide, including those with dementia. |