CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan said the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's Australia’s Health 2024 report, released on Tuesday, illustrates the enormity and impact of dementia in Australia as the chronic disease of the 21st century.
“The report provides vital information for governments, and the health, aged care and disability sectors to ensure there is investment in appropriate dementia supports and services,” she said.
“The data also provides compelling evidence of the need for further funding commitments to dementia research, increasing community awareness and a strategic public health approach to dementia prevention.
“The latest research tells us that with increased awareness of the modifiable risk factors across populations and over time, we could be delaying or potentially preventing 40% of dementia cases."
The Health 2024 report stated dementia is the second leading cause of disease burden in 2023, with the number of Australians with dementia predicted to more than double by 2058 to 849,300 people.
