NEW figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveal that dementia is on track to become Australia's leading cause of death.
In 2023, dementia accounted for 9.1% of all deaths, just behind ischaemic heart disease at 9.2%.
For women, dementia remains the top cause, contributing to 12.2% of female deaths compared to 6.4% for men.
The data also shows dementia is the leading cause of death in South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory, and, for the first time, New South Wales.
Dementia Australia CEO Prof Tanya Buchanan emphasised the need for public health strategies to address dementia risk, referencing the 2024 Lancet Commission, which stated that nearly half of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed.
Currently, an estimated 421,000 Australians are living with dementia, and this number is expected to double to 812,500 by 2054.
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