Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia, has become a pressing public health challenge in Australia.
The impact on individuals, families, and society as a whole is significant. The devastating ongoing effects of this debilitating disease underscore the urgent need for transformative research and early detection strategies.
Alzheimer’s Research Australia is a leading medical research institute specialising in Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
Every year, countless individuals dedicate thousands of hours to Alzheimer’s research. Every day people are contributing by participating in research studies, clinical trials, and fundraising efforts.
Together, we a making a difference in the fight to create a world where Alzheimer’s is detected early, prevented effectively, and treated successfully.
Our goal is to make Alzheimer’s a distant memory for future generations.
Dementia is the second leading cause of death of Australia. For women, dementia is already the leading cause of death in Australia.
Deaths due to Dementia, which includes Alzheimer’s disease, increased by 56% in the last decade.
More than 70% of dementia is attributed to Alzheimer’s disease.
More than 480,000 Australians currently live with dementia.
250 Australians are diagnosed with dementia every day.
30% of Australians over 85 have dementia.
More than two thirds of aged care Australian residents have moderate to severe cognitive impairment.
Over the past two decades, the number of Australians aged 85 years and over increased by 110%, compared with the total population growth of 35%.
The number of Australians aged 85 years and over is projected to double by 2042, increasing to over 1 million people.
More than 6.4 million Australians will be diagnosed with dementia in the next 40 years, without a significant medical breakthrough.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (2022), Causes of Death, Australia, ABS Website, 2023.
- The National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling NATSEM(2016) Economic Cost of Dementia in Australia 2016-2056.
- Dementia Australia (2018) Dementia Prevalence Data 2018-2058, commissioned research undertaken by NATSEM, University of Canberra.
Ros Thomas: A deeply personal journey
Journalist and author, Ros Thomas, shares her deeply personal story, which shows the path that one family has experienced on their Alzheimer’s journey.
Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s disease is the cause of approximately 70% of all dementia cases.
