At the start of Dementia Action Week 2025 (15-21 September), Dementia Australia is joining News Corp in urging Australians to Think Again about dementia.
According to the latest update of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's (AIHW) Dementia in Australia report, dementia is now the leading cause of death for Australians.
The AIHW report found that without a significant intervention, the number of Australians living with dementia will exceed 1 million by 2065.
Currently there are an estimated 433,000 Australians living with dementia – including 29,000 diagnosed under the age of 65 – and 1.7 million people involved in their care.
Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan said while these figures may be alarming, if you think there's nothing you can do about dementia, think again.
Professor Buchanan said the AIHW Dementia in Australia report – updated last week – revealed that 43 per cent of the dementia burden in Australia can be attributed to six modifiable risk factors: being overweight or obese, physical inactivity, high blood sugar, high blood pressure in midlife, smoking and impaired kidney function.
"More than a quarter of Australians (28 per cent) incorrectly believe there is nothing they can do to reduce the risk of dementia[1]," she said.
"But there are things you can do now."
That includes:
