World Alzheimer’s Day is a reminder that Alzheimer’s doesn’t only affect memory. It can change how people make decisions, manage money, recognize risk, and maintain their independence, sometimes years before a diagnosis.
For Carefull, that connection between cognitive health and financial health is central to our work. We’re proud to support the Alzheimer’s Association and its efforts to advance early detection, education, care and support for families. Learn more about Carefull and the Alzheimer’s Association
And increasingly, financial organizations are recognizing their role, too. Our partner Edward Jones, which has worked with the Alzheimer’s Association for more than a decade, is helping bring financial safety into that broader support system by providing Carefull to its U.S. clients at no cost. On World Alzheimer’s Day, Edward Jones shared more about how these efforts come together to support people living with Alzheimer’s and the millions of family members who care for them. Read Edward Jones’ World Alzheimer’s Day announcement
The numbers below help show why this work matters, and why protecting financial well-being belongs in the conversation about cognitive health.
1. 57 million people worldwide are living with dementia. Nearly 10 million new cases are diagnosed each year, and Alzheimer's disease accounts for an estimated 60–70% of dementia cases.
2. 7.4 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's dementia. That's about 1 in 9 Americans in this age group — making Alzheimer's a reality for millions of individuals and families.
3. Alzheimer's and dementia don't only affect people over 65. About 200,000 Americans under age 65 are living with younger-onset dementia.
4. Financial management can be particularly vulnerable to cognitive decline. Nearly 30% of adults over age 65 experience diminished cognitive capacity, and managing finances is often one of the first skills to become vulnerable which is why financial behavior is worth paying attention to.
5. Financial changes can begin years before a dementia diagnosis. A study of more than 80,000 Medicare beneficiaries found that people later diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias were more likely to miss bill payments as early as 6 years before diagnosis. Subprime credit scores began appearing about 2.5 years before diagnosis.
6. Many people continue managing their own finances even as cognition declines. More than half of older adults experiencing cognitive decline retain primary responsibility for managing their money, demonstrating why putting safeguards and trusted support in place early is important.
7. More than 12 million family members and other unpaid caregivers are already helping. In 2025, they provided an estimated 19.6 billion hours of unpaid care to people living with Alzheimer's or other dementias valued at more than $446 billion.
8. What's good for your body is also beneficial for your brain. Regular physical activity, managing blood pressure and other health factors, eating a healthy diet, staying socially connected, and continuing to challenge your brain are all associated with supporting cognitive health as we age.
The facts are significant, but they also point to something hopeful: there are opportunities to support people earlier.
Financial changes can emerge years before a dementia diagnosis. Families can put trusted support in place before a crisis. Financial institutions can help protect customers and clients from scams, mistakes and exploitation. And advances in research can help us better understand the behavioral signals that may indicate someone is becoming financially vulnerable.
That’s also why Carefull recently welcomed Gregory Samanez-Larkin, Ph.D., a Duke University professor and neuroscientist, as our Research Fellow. His decades of research into aging, cognition and financial decision-making are now being applied directly to Carefull’s technology as we work to identify financial vulnerability earlier and translate behavioral science into practical protection for older adults and their families. Meet Carefull Research Fellow Gregory Samanez-Larkin, Ph.D.
On World Alzheimer’s Day, we’re proud to stand alongside the Alzheimer’s Association, Edward Jones, researchers, caregivers and families working toward the same goal: helping people live with greater safety, dignity and independence as they age.
