SOUTH DAKOTA(WNAX)- A recent report from the Alzheimer’s Association shows that South Dakota will see an eleven percent increase in the number of people affected over the next five years and has the highest death rate in the country.

Leslie Morrow, Executive Director of the state chapter, says that shows the need to support research.

Morrow says the costs of care are rising, especially hitting Medicaid.

Morrow says they also need to help those that are caring for those with the disease.

Morrow says Medicaid costs for treating Alzheimer’s patients was over one hundred eighty million dollars in 2020.