Why we need to talk about dementia
Dementia is one of society’s most pressing health problems. It affects almost one in 10 people over the age of 65 and is the second leading cause of death in Australia. With life expectancy projected to increase in coming decades, more than one million Australians will be living with dementia by 2050 if no effective treatment is found.
But dementia is more than just numbers. Its tendrils reach far and wide: nearly all of us know somebody affected by the condition, whether it be a family member, friend or colleague. People with dementia experience devastating changes to their lives, gradually losing their independence, intelligence, personality, and ultimately, their identity. Families experience the terrible burden of watching their loved ones suffer and disappear before their eyes.