Delaying dementia: tackling Australia’s leading cause of death in women

Did you know dementia is the leading cause of death in Australian women, second only to coronary disease in men, with cases expected to more than double by 2058?

Globally, 57 million people are living with dementia today, caused by the abnormal build-up of Lewy bodies on nerve cells, affecting thinking, memory & movement.

Although the elderly population may fear a dementia diagnosis, largely due to its impact on cognitive function & the current lack of cure, it is important to note that dementia is not an inevitable consequence of ageing.

Growing old does not always compromise your brain’s cognitive function.

Reflecting on a recent article in the The Australian, Principal Research Fellow at the National Ageing Research Institute, Associate Professor Goh, Melbourne, said “the brain does age & change over the years, but it’s not always negative. It’s not always a loss of function, it’s just a difference in functioning.”

Concerningly, according to the 2024 World Alzheimer Report reveals 80 per cent of the general public & 65 per cent of healthcare professionals believe dementia is a normal part of ageing. Therefore, more action is clearly needed to prevent the spread of misinformation about dementia diseases, including Alzheimer’s.

With dementia cases on the rise, much can still be done to reduce the risk of complications during the ageing process.

In July 2024, 24 global experts leading the Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention & Care identified 14 risk factors, which, if followed, could prevent 45 per cent of world dementia cases. Among these factors were early education, smoking cessation, reduced alcohol consumption & treatment of obesity.

Significantly, the report also revealed for the first time, that individuals with a genetic predisposition to dementia can reduce their chance of developing the disease by eliminating the 14 key risk factors.

Prevention is crucial. Each year, delaying the onset of dementia correlates with the diagnosis of 10 per cent fewer cases.

To learn more about how to reduce your risk of developing the debilitating group of diseases, read the full Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention & Care report here.