An alarming rise in memory problems among young people

The incidence of self-reported cognitive disability among US adults has increased from 5.3% to 7.4% over the past decade.
Rates nearly doubled for younger adults ages 18 to 39.
The steepest increases occurred among people with lower income and lower educational levels.
American Indian and Alaska Native adults reported the highest overall rates.
Researchers urge a deeper study of the social and economic reasons behind these patterns.

Increasing reports of memory and thinking problems

A growing percentage of American adults, especially those under 40, say they have problems with memory, concentration, and decision-making, according to a new study published in the journal neurologyJournal of the American Academy of Neurology.

“Challenges with memory and thinking have emerged as a major health problem reported by adults in the United States,” said study author Adam D. Havenon of Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. “Our study shows that these difficulties may become more prevalent, especially among younger adults, and that social and structural factors are likely to play a major role.”

The researchers examined data from more than 4.5 million annual surveys conducted between 2013 and 2023. Participants were asked: “Due to a physical, mental, or emotional condition, do you have great difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions?” Those who answered “yes” were classified as having cognitive impairment. Responses from individuals who reported depression, as well as data from 2020, were excluded due to the unique impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Younger adults see a steeper upward climb

Between 2013 and 2023, the proportion of adults reporting cognitive impairment increased from 5.3% to 7.4%. The upward trend began around 2016 and was most pronounced among adults under 40, where rates nearly doubled from 5.1% to 9.7%. Meanwhile, adults ages 70 and older showed a slight decline, from 7.3% to 6.6% over the same period.

Although this survey did not directly measure clinical cognitive impairment, de Hafnon noted that the increasing rate of self-reported difficulties among younger adults indicates an emerging public health issue.

Economic and educational gaps in brain health

Income and education appear to play a major role in cognitive health trends. Adults earning less than $35,000 a year had the highest reported rates, rising from 8.8% to 12.6% over the decade. By comparison, adults with incomes over $75,000 saw only a modest increase, from 1.8% to 3.9%.

Education showed a similar gap: rates among adults without a high school diploma rose from 11.1% to 14.3%, while rates among college graduates rose from 2.1% to 3.6%.

Racial and ethnic disparities

Although most participants were white, self-reported cognitive challenges increased in nearly all racial and ethnic groups:

American Indians and Alaska Natives: highest prevalence, 7.5% to 11.2%
Hispanic adults: 6.8% to 9.9%
Black adults: 7.3% to 8.2%
White adults: 4.5% to 6.3%
Asian adults: 3.9% to 4.8%

“These findings suggest that we are seeing sharp increases in memory and thinking problems among people who already face structural defects,” de Hafnon said. “We need to better understand and address the underlying social and economic factors that may be driving this trend.”

“More research is also needed to understand what is driving the significant increase in rates among younger adults, given the potential long-term impacts on health, workforce productivity, and health care systems,” De Hafnon continued. “It could reflect actual changes in brain health, better awareness and willingness to report problems, or other health and social factors. But whatever the possible causes, the rise is real — and it’s particularly pronounced in people under 40.”

The researchers noted that the study relied on self-reported data from phone surveys, which means participants may not have remembered all the details accurately. Another limitation was the broad definition used for cognitive impairment, which may include a range of experiences rather than a specific clinical diagnosis