A significant new study reveals that African American and Latino families are projected to face the most substantial financial burden from Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) in the coming decades. Researchers analyzed data from over 31,000 older adults to meticulously assess the evolving economic impact of ADRD on families, employers, and government entities, tracking its trajectory from 2020 through 2060.

While the overall economic toll of ADRD is expected to surge dramatically, escalating from $344 billion in 2020 to more than $3 trillion by 2060, this burden will not be distributed uniformly across different racial and ethnic groups. In 2020, white adults were responsible for approximately two-thirds of the total costs, amounting to $231 billion. However, by 2060, the study forecasts a profound shift: African American and Latino adults combined will bear an astounding $1.7 trillion of the burden, effectively surpassing the projected $1.4 trillion for white adults.

This critical shift is primarily driven by disparities in unpaid caregiving, which constitutes over half of the total Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias burden and imposes a disproportionate strain on Latino and African American households. Currently, Latino caregivers allocate 16% of their household income to caregiving-related expenses, significantly higher than the 9% for African American caregivers and 8% for white caregivers. These percentages are expected to rise steadily, intensifying the financial strain on numerous families.

Beyond unpaid care, the researchers meticulously calculated additional economic factors, including lost wages, reduced workplace productivity, out-of-pocket medical expenditures, and diminished federal tax revenue. For instance, medical costs specifically for Latino adults living with ADRD are projected to skyrocket from $1.8 billion in 2020 to $31.9 billion by 2060, a growth rate that outpaces that observed among white adults during the same period. The study’s authors succinctly stated, “African American and Latino adults bore one-third ($113 billion) of [the economic burden] in 2020, with projections rising to $1.7 trillion by 2060, surpassing the economic burden for white adults.”

The researchers underscored that several interconnected factors are propelling these trends: population growth within these communities, a higher prevalence of the disease, and persistent disparities in both diagnosis and access to adequate care. In light of these findings, the study emphatically concludes that targeted policies are urgently required to mitigate the severe long-term financial consequences for minority communities affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.