DEMENTIA has overtaken heart disease as Australia’s leading cause of death, prompting public health experts to call for urgent national action to strengthen prevention and awareness.
A letter published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health highlights data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and the Australian Bureau of Statistics showing the growing toll dementia is taking on the nation.
Tanya Buchanan, chief executive of Dementia Australia and co-author of the letter, said the figures should serve as a national wake-up call.
“Dementia is now the leading cause of death in Australia. But it is not an inevitable part of ageing,” Professor Buchanan said.
“While we cannot change our genetics or family history, there are steps all Australians can take to protect their brain health throughout life.”
An estimated 446,500 Australians are living with dementia in 2026, and without significant intervention that number is expected to more than double to over one million by 2065.
Despite the rising numbers, awareness of dementia prevention remains low. A 2024 Dementia Australia survey found more than a quarter of Australians incorrectly believe there is nothing they can do to reduce their risk.
Health experts say six modifiable risk factors account for about 43 per cent of dementia cases. These include tobacco use, overweight and obesity, physical inactivity, high blood pressure in midlife, high blood plasma glucose and impaired kidney function.
Professor Buchanan said the steps needed to reduce dementia risk are similar to those used to prevent other chronic diseases but have not received the same level of attention.
“We need prevention efforts that begin in childhood and continue throughout life, along with early detection and intervention,” she said.
“A national brain health campaign, especially one targeting disadvantaged populations, is urgently needed.”
Terry Slevin, chief executive of the Public Health Association of Australia, said the rising burden of dementia is placing increasing pressure on Australia’s health system.
“Australians understand that many cases of cancer and heart disease are preventable. We now need the same mindset for dementia,” he said.
“Around two in five dementia cases could potentially be prevented through lifestyle changes.”
Public health leaders are urging governments to place brain health at the centre of preventive health strategies, with increased funding, research and public awareness campaigns to address what they warn is a rapidly growing national health challenge.
