Dementia in Indigenous Australians
New research has revealed dementia rates among Indigenous West Australians to be among the worst in the world, and more than five times higher than non-Indigenous Australians.
The Western Australian Centre for Health and Ageing (WACHA) has reported that 12.4% of older Indigenous people living in the Kimberley have dementia.
The current rate of dementia Australia wide for people over the age of 45 years is 2.4%.
WACHA director, Professor Leon Flicker, said the first of their kind research would provide a basis for further studies into appropriate services and care.
“We believe the prevalence of dementia in the Kimberley indigenous population is one of the highest we’ve seen among all other studied populations throughout the world.”
