Dementia has overtaken all other illnesses to become the leading cause of death in Australia, according to a sobering new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
In 2023, nearly 17,400 Australians – 9.5% of all deaths – died from dementia. It is now the leading cause of death for women and the second for men, after coronary heart disease.
An estimated 425,000 Australians currently live with dementia, equating to 16 people per 1,000. Diagnosis rates rise sharply with age, from fewer than one in 1,000 among people aged 30–59, to 210 in 1,000 aged 85–89. Almost two-thirds of dementia patients are women. By 2065, over one million Australians are expected to be living with dementia.
Dementia Australia CEO Tanya Buchanan urged all levels of government to act decisively, including funding awareness campaigns, training dementia care professionals, and supporting families. She highlighted social isolation as a major issue, encouraging Australians to reach out to those affected, especially during Dementia Action Week.
The story of Gina Callan, diagnosed with younger onset dementia at 58, illustrates the personal toll. A former nurse and mother of two, Callan has recorded storybooks for her grandchildren to preserve her voice and memory. She is calling for brain health education in schools and for dementia to be treated as a national priority.
The AIHW report notes that almost $3.7 billion was spent on dementia-related health and aged care in 2020–21, with residential aged care services accounting for 49% of expenditure. While there is no cure, lifestyle factors like sleep, exercise, blood pressure control, and avoiding smoking or excessive alcohol can significantly reduce risk.
