Planning dementia care for the future requires solid evidence. With this in mind Alzheimer's Australia commissioned Access Economics to provide up-to-date estimates and projections of prevalence and incidence for people with dementia. The projections cover the period 2009 to 2050.
This report 'Keeping Dementia Front of Mind: Incidence and Prevalence 2009 - 2050' has been timed to inform the Government's response to the National Health and Hospital Reform Commissions report and the decisions to be taken in the 2010 Budget on the next five years of the Dementia Initiative - Making Dementia a National Health Priority.
The number of people diagnosed with dementia is projected to increase, with the number of cases increasing from 245,400 in 2009 to 1.13 million cases by 2050.
The Report concludes that the rising prevalence of dementia will have substantial consequences for our health care system and our quality of life, with the emphasis changing strikingly from cardiovascular disease and cancer to the neurodegenerative conditions, marking an important epidemiological transition. The Report recommends that dementia should be front of mind in the Government's response to the NHHRC.
Executive Summary
PDF file, 220 KB, August 2009
Media Release
PDF file, 70 KB, August 2009
Specifically the Report:
· Predicts that there will be over 1.1 million Australians with dementia by 2050.
· Concludes that dementia is on track to become the largest source of health and aged care spending.
· Highlights the importance of planning service delivery to ensure equitable access to dementia care for those in non-metropolitan areas, people from Indigenous and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities and those with younger onset dementia.
· Finds that dementia is already the single largest cause of disability in older Australians (aged 65 years or older).
· Finds that a significant area of further research needs to be undertaken in epidemiological studies on the incidence and prevalence of all types of dementia among CALD and non-CALD populations in Australia, and younger onset dementia. This should also include an investigation of risk factors associated with dementia and the specific care needs required by these groups.
Full Report
