Dementia now the leading cause of death in Australia

Figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Dementia in Australia report show the number of people with dementia could increase to close to 1.1 million by 2066 without significant intervention.

Dementia was also shown to be the leading cause of death in Australia.

Dementia Australia Executive Director of Policy and Government Relations Eliza Hazlett said dementia has overtaken coronary heart disease as the main cause of death for the past two years and now accounts for one in ten deaths in Australia.

“It's a real changing that reflects the ageing population, but it’s also a call to action of what we need to be doing in terms of early intervention prevention work in this space also,” Ms Hazlett said.

“While we've got good services and supports and we've got some promising emerging new treatments, at the moment there isn't a cure.”

“Dementia Australia's been advocating for a number of years now for a widespread brain health campaign because we do have good evidence that up to 45% of dementias can be prevented or delayed.”

“Some Australians don't understand that dementia's not an inevitable part of ageing and there are actually things we can do to reduce our risk.”

She said better knowledge of the 14 modifiable risk factors influencing dementia is critical, to help reduce people’s risk of having dementia in later life.

“Check their cardiovascular health and make sure that they're treating high blood pressure, make sure they're checking for diabetes and having that treated if that's an issue,” she said.

"Diet is really important, a Mediterranean diet, exercise — and it doesn't have to be anything crazy, but three times a week, a moderate level of exercise. 

“Also interesting things like checking your hearing and your eyesight and addressing those things, which is newer evidence that's been emerging over the last few years.”

The report found that in 2024, dementia was the second leading cause of disease burden.

Ms Hazlett says this is significant as it takes into account the overall impact of the disease in terms of the number of people it affects and the effect on their lives.

“That's actually grown from the 11th cause of burden in 2023 to now being the second leading cause. So its impact on the community is really increasing with time,” she said.

Dementia Australia calls for more investment in brain health

Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan said the data shows the significant impact of dementia as a chronic disease, and its growing consequences for society.

“The data shows dementia as a burden of disease has increased relative to other conditions for that past two decades but despite this, investment in dementia specific services and supports have not kept pace,” Professor Buchanan said. 

“It is critical that we support people living with dementia, their families and carers, who have been vocal in sharing what they need through consultations and the development of the National Dementia Action Plan.

“With an estimated 446,500 Australians living with dementia, 1.7 million people involved in their care and these numbers on the rise according to our figures, Dementia Australia will continue to advocate for a national brain health campaign and for additional investment to support all Australians living with dementia, their families and carers.”

She said the data shows the urgent need for better funding to implement the National Dementia Action Plan.

Better funding would also help initiatives such as the Dementia Advocates Program, which enables people living with dementia and their carers to share their stories, tackle stigma and discrimination and increase understanding of the condition and its implications.

Advocates highlight the need for dignity with diagnosis

Patrick Frost from Adelaide is part of the Dementia Advocates program. He cares for his partner Janet Thomas who lives with Alzheimers at home and is also part of the advocates program. She was diagnosed at 70.

“I think we were very lucky to get a diagnosis that soon because whilst Janet is now noticing more effects of Alzheimer's, in the last four years, she's been able to live a pretty normal life,” Mr Frost said.

“Today she's on a panel interviewing job applicants who want to come and work in a particular programme at Dementia Australia, the community engagement programme. 

"I think the diagnosis, the journey through diagnosis is still quite difficult and it's no one's fault. It's just the way the condition manifests. 

“When Janet and I first became advocates, I remember one of the first meetings we were discussing the way a GP might've investigated whether someone has got dementia and they might deliver the diagnosis by saying, "Look, all the tests are showing that you definitely do have a form of dementia, and so you should go home now and get your affairs in order." 

“Once upon a time, I guess that might've been the case because the diagnosis could have come quite late in the progression of the disease and it's fairly obvious that someone has got something seriously going wrong in their brain. 

"But these days, because the diagnoses are often much earlier, many people will get another 10 or 15 years of life before the final days. So that's not an appropriate way for a GP to deliver the diagnosis anymore.”

“And so we're encouraging people to give people who are diagnosed with dementia the dignity and the life expectancy that they can live in a happy way, engaging with their families and being supported as much as they can by their families and loved ones, but also continuing to engage in the community.”

The free and confidential National Dementia Helpline is available on 1800 100 500, 24 hours a day every day of the year.