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Disability

Thinking and memory disability

17.7 million people in the U.S. (5.6% of those age 5 and over) have a thinking and memory difficulty. It affects 8.1% of people 65 and over and 4.9% of children.

What the Census asks: Because of a physical, mental or emotional condition, serious difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions.

At a glance

People with this difficulty
17.7 million
Share of people age 5 and over
5.6%
Age 65 and over
8.1%
Children (under 18)
4.9%

Map by county

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By age

Share with a thinking and memory difficulty, by age group (number of people)
  • 5–174.9% 2,721,462
  • 18–345.4% 4,095,867
  • 35–645.0% 6,292,547
  • 65–745.2% 1,780,494
  • 75 and over12.3% 2,811,934

Who treats it

Together: 17.9 of these clinicians for every 10,000 people with a thinking and memory difficulty.

Clinicians registered with this primary specialty and a practice address, as on our maps. Many other clinicians, such as family doctors, also care for people with this difficulty.

By state

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Specialists per person with this difficulty

Number of Neurology and Geriatric Medicine per 10,000 people with a thinking and memory difficulty. Lower means each specialist has more people to serve.

The 10 states with the fewest specialists per person with this difficulty
StatePer 10,000SpecialistsPeople with the difficulty
Mississippi7.6152200,537
Wyoming7.72127,436
Puerto Rico7.7231300,144
Idaho7.987109,537
Arkansas8.3181218,194
Kentucky9.5306321,183
Alaska9.73636,942
Oklahoma10.4273262,233
Alabama10.6337318,752
New Mexico10.7152141,810
All states
States from fewest to most specialists per person with this difficulty
StatePer 10,000SpecialistsPeople with the difficulty
Mississippi7.6152200,537
Wyoming7.72127,436
Puerto Rico7.7231300,144
Idaho7.987109,537
Arkansas8.3181218,194
Kentucky9.5306321,183
Alaska9.73636,942
Oklahoma10.4273262,233
Alabama10.6337318,752
New Mexico10.7152141,810
West Virginia10.9137125,858
Louisiana11.5337293,212
Montana11.87362,108
Indiana12.1464383,113
Georgia12.5706566,070
Tennessee13.0527406,533
Nevada13.3215161,119
Iowa13.7211153,929
Texas14.32,0441,433,340
Oregon14.6414282,964
Kansas14.7235159,559
Washington15.5691444,756
South Carolina15.7437279,037
North Carolina15.7871553,255
North Dakota16.15936,601
Utah16.2262161,416
Maine16.815692,753
Arizona16.9636375,846
Ohio17.51,194682,910
Virginia17.9737412,502
Missouri18.1658363,374
Nebraska18.116591,007
Delaware18.49953,902
Florida18.62,1191,136,653
Michigan18.71,099588,170
Vermont19.37538,903
South Dakota19.57940,538
California19.63,5461,805,831
Wisconsin19.9560281,679
Pennsylvania21.21,617762,874
Colorado21.5575267,710
Hawaii21.515270,649
New Hampshire21.816575,621
Rhode Island23.514963,409
Illinois24.31,373565,690
New Jersey24.6896364,950
Minnesota26.6752283,238
New York27.32,669979,320
Maryland27.8780280,198
Connecticut28.9520179,793
Massachusetts36.01,332370,292
District of Columbia56.219634,854

Counties with the highest share

  1. Toa Baja Municipio, Puerto Rico 19.4%
  2. St. Helena Parish, Louisiana 17.9%
  3. Cidra Municipio, Puerto Rico 17.6%
  4. Camuy Municipio, Puerto Rico 16.2%
  5. Quebradillas Municipio, Puerto Rico 16.1%
  6. Perry County, Kentucky 15.8%
  7. Socorro County, New Mexico 15.1%
  8. Magoffin County, Kentucky 14.8%
  9. Breathitt County, Kentucky 14.5%
  10. Buchanan County, Virginia 14.3%

Counties where at least 10,000 people were counted; survey estimates for smaller counties have wide margins of error.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 (tables B18101–B18107), civilian population living in the community (not in nursing homes or other institutions). People report their own difficulties, or a household member reports for them. Totals are the 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico, as on the map. Specialists: NPPES NPI Registry, the same counts as our specialty pages.