The number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease surpassed 7 million for the first time, according to the 2025 Facts and Figures report released Tuesday from the Alzheimer’s Association.
Sharon Covert, the executive director of the association’s West Virginia chapter, said the report found nearly 40,000 West Virginians age 65 and older have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or Dementia.
“If you extract that out to include people 45 and older, and that is not an age group people typically associate with the disease, but the number goes up to something like 115,000, and I think that in a state of 1.7 million, that’s an incredible number,” Covert said. “Both numbers are disturbing, but when you look at the total number, that’s even more disturbing, because we’re talking about people in the workplace or of working age and grandparents taking care of grandchildren.”
West Virginia ranks third in the nation for older adults per capita, with 20.5% of its population age 65 or older.
However, with advancements in Alzheimer’s research, Covert said this is the era of treatment.
“These treatments can slow down the progression of the disease by a year or two, and that is just precious time that people want,” Covert said. “I think at the time when there was no treatment, there were no options, people didn’t think about it, because there was nothing out there to consider.”
The key to treating the disease is early detection. Covert said memory loss that disrupts daily life is one of the first signs to watch for in loved ones.
“It could be forgetting something that you just found out, forgetting important dates and events, and you’ve never forgotten them before, or asking the same questions over and over,” Covert said.
Advocates like Covert have worked for years to remove the stigma surrounding Alzheimer’s disease.
“They feel like, if we don’t talk about it, then it’s not really a thing,” Covert said. “Some people feel like, ‘I’ve been around the loved one for a while, and I’m noticing things,’ but someone from out of state comes in to visit, sees them, and goes, ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about. They seem fine to me.’ People need to remember that there should be no stigma. It’s a medical disease.”
Covert encouraged West Virginians who notice possible symptoms in loved ones or themselves to reach out to the Alzheimer’s Association for free resources at alz.org/wv or call 800-272-3900.
“Information is power, so be sure to reach out, ask for help,” Covert said. “Ask for information. We’re happy to help.”
The association’s report also examined the cost of care and the impact of treatment on caregivers. It found that 65,000 West Virginia residents are serving as unpaid family caregivers, a service valued at $2 billion in the report.
