Dementia Now Leading Cause Of Death For Australians

Dementia has overtaken other conditions to become the leading cause of death in Australia, according to the latest update of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s Dementia in Australia report.

The findings, released in the lead-up to Dementia Action Week (15-21 September), warn that without major intervention the number of Australians living with dementia will surpass 1 million by 2065.

Rising Impact On Families

Dementia Australia Chief Executive, Professor Tanya Buchanan, said the update highlighted the scale of the condition’s impact on communities nationwide.

“These figures highlight just how many families are impacted by dementia across Australia. Most of us know someone who is or has been impacted by dementia,” Professor Buchanan said.

She added that many people with dementia experience social isolation after diagnosis.

“People affected by dementia often tell us that friends and family drift away after a diagnosis, because they are unsure of how to interact,” she said.

“That’s why the theme for this year’s Dementia Action Week is ‘Nobody can do it alone’. We are challenging Australians to reconnect with someone impacted by dementia to help combat the high levels of social isolation many experience.”

Calls For Community And Government Action

Dementia Australia Advocate Lil Mirtl, who lives with dementia, said the findings should encourage more open discussion and faster responses to support needs.

“We don’t have time to feel uncomfortable or awkward about these conversations about dementia – we need to have them now,” Mirtl said.

“We have to pull together as a community to do this. We can’t do it alone as individuals, the government can’t do it alone, we need to all act together.”

Modifiable Risk Factors

The report identified that 43 per cent of the dementia burden in Australia can be linked to six modifiable risk factors: being overweight or obese, physical inactivity, high blood sugar, high blood pressure in midlife, smoking and impaired kidney function.

Professor Buchanan said this highlighted the need for a national conversation about prevention and awareness.

“With dementia now the leading cause of death for Australians it is more pressing than ever that the federal government commit to funding a national conversation on dementia to raise awareness and promote brain health at all ages,” she said.

“By taking a comprehensive approach to addressing dementia, we can reduce the impact into the future. With aged care across the country already under pressure, and the number of people living with dementia expected to exceed 1 million by 2065, we simply cannot afford to wait. We call on the government to take decisive action. People living with dementia, their families and carers are depending on us to do this right, and to do it now.”

Resources For Dementia Action Week

Dementia Australia is encouraging people to use resources and information available at dementia.org.au/dementiaactionweek to reconnect with someone impacted by dementia and help reduce isolation during Dementia Action Week.

Last Updated on September 12, 2025 by Nick Ross