There are observed differences in the diagnosis of dementia that are not exclusively related to disease specific issues. This study looks into the elements of health disparity related to differences in geography and socio-economic statuses and uses the Area Deprivation Index (ADI), a multidimensional measurement of socioeconomic disadvantage that incorporates measures on education, housing, employment, and poverty. This study uses the ADI as a factor in determining the timeliness and specificity of dementia diagnoses.Making an etiological diagnosis of dementia is an important first step in establishing the proper management strategies and care planning for each patient. Early diagnosis provides the opportunity for shared decision making, legal and financial planning, long-term care planning, risk management, and participation in research or clinical trials. Early intervention may lead to improved cognitive outcomes especially now with the availability of biomarkers and potential disease modifying therapies. Delayed diagnosis may contribute to the lower levels of participation of historically marginalized populations in clinical research.Our results show that most patients with dementia do not receive a proper work work-up or an etiological diagnosis. Only 8.2% and 20.4% received an “adequate” workup while 32.5% and 20.4% of received “disease-specific” diagnoses at UVA Medical Center and Carillion Clinic respectively. Those who did receive an adequate workup were shown to be more likely to receive a dementia specific diagnosis. Participants living in areas with ADI levels just above the national median had the lowest likelihood of receiving an etiological diagnosis highlighting the impact of access to care on health outcomes and underscores the potential benefits of maintaining and expanding healthcare safety nets.