Dementia is a term used to describe a group of similar conditions characterised by gradual impairment of brain function. Changes due to the condition may affect memory but also speech, cognition (thought), behaviour, mobility and an individual’s personality, and their health and functional ability decline as the disease progresses. Having multiple types of dementia at once is common and is referred to as ‘mixed dementia’. Other main types of dementia are Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, and frontotemporal dementia. Dementia is also associated with other conditions (such as Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and Down syndrome), prolonged substance abuse and severe brain injuries.
Dementia is a progressively fatal condition. As dementia progresses and a person’s care needs become greater, carers provide essential support to people with dementia in almost all aspects of their daily living. Family and friends provide a substantial amount of care for people with dementia who live in the community, as well as those who are living in permanent residential aged care facilities.
Age is the biggest risk factor for dementia, and the number of Australians living with dementia is projected to increase with more Australians living to older ages.
There are a number of lifestyle factors which may increase your risk of developing dementia (such as physical inactivity, obesity in mid-life, excessive alcohol consumption, social isolation, and tobacco smoking) as well as some health conditions. As there is currently no known cure for dementia, managing these risks at a population level is the best way to prevent and manage dementia. For people with Alzheimer’s disease, there are also 4 medications (Donepezil, Galantamine, Rivastigmine, and Memantine) available under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS; for war veterans and their dependants) that may help to manage symptoms and slow dementia progression.
This topic presents reports and statistics that are specifically focused on dementia, but additional information on dementia can be found under Aged care, Older people and Palliative care services.
The latest information on dementia
The Dementia in Australia report is Australia’s largest online compendium of national dementia statistics and provides the most up-to-date data on dementia, including:
- What is dementia, including how dementia is diagnosed, risk factors, types of dementia and available care and support services
- How many people have dementia, including prevalence and incidence
- Deaths and disease burden
- Carers of people with dementia: findings from the Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers
- Health services used by people with dementia, including general practitioner (GP) and specialist services, prescriptions for dementia-specific medications and hospital care
- Aged care and support services used by people with dementia
- First Nations Australians with dementia, including population health impacts, burden of disease, hospital care and aged care service use
- Culturally and linguistically diverse people with dementia
- People with younger onset and childhood dementia
- Dementia in other priority groups, including veterans, people with intellectual disabilities, and the LGBTIQ+ community
- Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia
- Spending on dementia
- National policy response to dementia.
Dementia in Australia also presents 5 Australian stories about living with dementia and/or caring for a loved one with dementia.
The Dementia in Australia report was launched in Dementia Action Week 2021 by the Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services and Minister for Sport, Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck. View the Minister's message.
