A peer-reviewed Neurology study finds a sharp rise in self-reported cognitive difficulties among U.S. adults from 2013 to 2023, with rates nearly doubling in people under 40 and the steepest increases among lower-income and less-educated groups. Authors point to social and economic factors and call for further study.
A study published in Neurology reports that the share of U.S. adults who self-report a cognitive disability rose from 5.3% in 2013 to 7.4% in 2023, with statistically significant increases beginning in 2016. The rise was most pronounced among adults ages 18 to 39, where prevalence nearly doubled from 5.1% to 9.7%. In contrast, adults 70 and older saw a slight decline, from 7.3% to 6.6%. (ovid.com)
The analysis drew on more than 4.5 million survey responses from the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (2013–2023, excluding 2020). Respondents were asked: “Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, do you have serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions?” Affirmative responses were classified as a cognitive disability. To better isolate nonpsychiatric cognitive problems, individuals who reported depression were excluded. (ovid.com)
Disparities by income and education were marked. Among adults with annual household incomes below $35,000, prevalence rose from 8.8% to 12.6%, compared with an increase from 1.8% to 3.9% among those with incomes above $75,000. Rates among adults without a high school diploma increased from 11.1% to 14.3%, while college graduates rose from 2.1% to 3.6%. (aan.com)
Racial and ethnic patterns were similar. American Indian and Alaska Native adults had the highest prevalence, rising from 7.5% to 11.2%. Rates also increased among Hispanic adults (6.8% to 9.9%), Black adults (7.3% to 8.2%), White adults (4.5% to 6.3%), and Asian adults (3.9% to 4.8%). (aan.com)
“Challenges with memory and thinking have emerged as a leading health issue reported by U.S. adults,” said corresponding author Adam de Havenon, MD, MS, of Yale School of Medicine. “These findings suggest we’re seeing the steepest increases in memory and thinking problems among people who already face structural disadvantages.” (aan.com)
The authors note limitations, including reliance on self-reported telephone survey data and a broad definition of cognitive disability that is not a clinical diagnosis. They call for more research into potential social and economic drivers, citing possible long-term implications for health, workforce productivity, and health systems. (ovid.com)