Dementia may become the greatest threat to Aussie lives: here’s why

Key points:

• The leading cause of death for Australians is heart disease, but it is closely followed by all forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease
• Approximately 411,000 Australians live with dementia, with more women affected than men, as per recent data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
• Dementia Australia Chief Executive Officer Professor Tanya Buchanan highlighted that ‘50,000 people have accessed crucial information’ from the Dementia Australia website in the last year

Dementia may soon be the leading cause of death for Australians due to related health concerns such as swallowing difficulties.

Although the most common cause of death in Australia is ischaemic heart disease, it is now followed closely by all forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. 

The shift of leading mortality cause highlights the need for an altered health focus for older Australians, as 8.4 percent of people will have dementia after the age of 65 years.

Ischaemic heart disease, also known as coronary heart disease, led to 9.2 percent of deaths in Australia, compared to 9.1 percent of dementia-related deaths in 2023.

Australian Bureau of Statistics Head of Mortality Statistics Lauren Moran commented on the recently released data on causes of death and how certain factors can influence health trends. 

“We’ve seen a drop in heart disease mortality and a rise in dementia deaths over time associated with both improvements in medical treatment and health care and an ageing population. This is changing our leading causes of death,” she said. 

However, Ms Moran highlighted that, in some states, dementia as a cause of death is more prevalent.

“Dementia is also the leading cause of death in South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and, for the first time, New South Wales,” she said.

Approximately 411,000 Australians live with dementia, with more women affected than men, as per recent data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. That number is expected to reach 849,300 Australians by 2058.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and up to 70 percent of people with dementia have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. 

While symptoms of dementia can vary depending on the cause and type, cognitive and psychological changes are common. 

Some cognitive changes may include memory loss, confusion or difficulties with communication. Agitation, depression or inappropriate behaviour may indicate psychological changes as a result of dementia.

Dementia is an overarching term for progressive brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. While the disease itself may not directly cause a person’s death, progressive brain diseases damage cells that are responsible for functions including swallowing. 

When a person’s swallowing is impaired, food may slip into the lungs, rather than the esophagus. This can lead to aspiration pneumonia — an infection in the lungs — and is the most common cause of death for people with Alzheimer’s disease according to multiple studies. 

Additionally, people with dementia may forget to eat or not recognise when they have an infection and, consequently, may not seek appropriate medical advice.

Dementia Australia Chief Executive Officer Professor Tanya Buchanan commented on the positive impact for Australians who access services from Dementia Australia, a not-for-profit organisation.

“In the last year, more than 50,000 people accessed crucial information through Dementia Australia services and more than 6,000 counselling sessions were conducted,” she said.

“For every carer, there is no reason too big or question too small to reach out to the National Dementia Helpline for support.”

One carer of a person with dementia, Sanna, highlighted the value of services such as counselling about dementia.

“The counselling and coaching they provided made a significant difference not just for me, but for my entire family. I’ve found that many carers feel obligated to take on this role [of looking after family members] and often don’t realise that there are services available to help them,” she said.

“This gap needs to be addressed because caregiving can be incredibly challenging without access to the right training and support.”

Although dementia cannot be prevented or cured, older Australians can reduce the likelihood of the condition by keeping their brain active, being social, eating healthily, maintaining a healthy body weight and engaging in physical activity. 

If this story has prompted any questions or concerns, please call the 24/7 National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 or visit the Dementia Australia website for more information.

After ischaemic heart disease and dementia, the most common causes of death in Australia are stroke, lung cancer and chronic lower respiratory diseases according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. 

Ischaemic heart disease occurs when a ‘coronary artery clogs and narrows because of a buildup of plaque.’ Risk factors for this condition include being overweight or obese, having high blood pressure, not being physically active and smoking.

What activities do you enjoy doing to stay healthy as an older Australian?

Let the team at Talking Aged Care know on social media. 

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