Florida leads nation in dementia among Medicare recipients, research finds

Around 90,000 Medicare recipients in Tampa Bay likely have Alzheimer's or another type of dementia, according to researchers developing the first-ever national surveillance system.

Why it matters: The lack of a widely accepted monitoring tool has made it hard to get a fix on the prevalence of dementia and to direct spending on care, even as science makes it easier to clinically diagnose symptoms and slow cognitive decline.

The big picture: Cases of dementia — a general term for loss of cognitive abilities — are expected to triple worldwide by 2050 as the population ages .

By the numbers: Florida has the highest prevalence rate of any state at 8.2%, according to the data hub.

• Hillsborough (9.3%) and Polk (7.7%) counties have the highest prevalence of dementia among Medicare recipients in Tampa Bay, while Hernando (6.8%) and Sarasota (6.5%) counties have the least.
• Hillsborough County is tied with Calhoun County in the Panhandle for the second-highest share in the state, behind Miami-Dade County at 13%.

Reality check: Dementia is notoriously difficult to diagnose, and this tool "still only involves people with diagnosed dementia," the Alzheimer's Association noted.

• "Additional tools are needed to fully understand total dementia prevalence across the country, while also expanding efforts to ensure a timely diagnosis for all in need."

The other side: The surveillance tool could be helpful in directing public health efforts, but improving care still requires higher Medicare reimbursements for dementia patients, John A. Hartford Foundation president Terry Fulmer told Axios.