DEMENTIA has officially overtaken ischaemic heart disease as Australia’s leading cause of death, according to new figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The Causes of Death, Australia, 2024 report reveals dementia accounted for 9.4 per cent of all deaths last year, with dementia-related fatalities rising 39 per cent over the past decade.
Women remain disproportionately affected, making up 62.4 per cent of all dementia deaths in 2024 – a pattern consistent for nearly a decade.
Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan said the findings underscore the need for stronger national leadership on dementia prevention, awareness and care.
“There are currently an estimated 433,300 Australians living with dementia, and without significant intervention this number is expected to exceed one million by 2065,” Professor Buchanan said.
“We need to act on dementia now. At a community level, we need to increase awareness of dementia and brain health … and across health, aged, disability and community care sectors, we must ensure access to quality dementia care, including palliative care tailored to people living with dementia, their families and carers.”
Professor Buchanan noted that while age and genetics are unchangeable factors, up to 45 per cent of dementia cases globally could be prevented or delayed by addressing modifiable risks.
The ABS data follows an updated Dementia in Australia report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, which also identified dementia as the nation’s leading cause of death.
In the same week, Dementia Australia announced more than $300,000 in Diversity Small Grants to support 10 Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and culturally and linguistically diverse community organisations.
The grants provide up to $30,000 each for grassroots projects aimed at boosting dementia awareness in ways that are culturally informed and community-led.
Professor Buchanan said the investment comes at a critical moment, with dementia prevalence among First Nations people estimated to be three to five times higher than in the broader population, and at least 28 per cent of Australians living with dementia born in a non-English-speaking country.
