Researchers find alarming rates of mental decline, warn of 'dementia crisis' in Newark area - Gothamist

What the report says

Gothamist reports that Rutgers-Newark researchers are warning of a serious dementia-care problem in the Newark area after community screenings found high levels of cognitive decline among older residents. The screenings, conducted since the start of 2026, focused on Black seniors living in public and federally subsidized housing in Newark and nearby communities, including East Orange and Irvington. Researchers screened 160 people over six months and found about two-thirds had memory decline beyond what would typically be expected for their age; nearly half of that group showed signs consistent with dementia.

The initiative is part of the Pathways to Healthy Aging in African Americans program run through the Aging & Brain Health Alliance at Rutgers-Newark. Mark Gluck, the alliance’s director, told Gothamist the findings amounted to a major warning sign, while also saying the researchers were not drawing conclusions about any specific population from the survey. The program is meant to bring screening into communities where people may not have easy access to medical providers.

Gothamist notes that Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia, is already a significant concern in New Jersey and Essex County. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that roughly 185,000 New Jersey residents over 65 have Alzheimer’s, and Essex County has one of the nation’s higher prevalence rates. Black Americans are also diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at higher rates than the broader population.

Researchers said many people flagged by the screenings were socially isolated and lacked nearby support, making early detection and follow-up care harder. Gluck said Newark has gained resources, including University Hospital’s Center for Memory and Brain Health, but that demand for dementia care still exceeds available capacity.