Dementia is one of the most pressing health challenges of our time and is the second leading cause of death in Australia. In 2020, around 459,000 Australians were living with dementia and, without a breakthrough, that number is expected to grow to more than 1 million by 2050. There is currently no cure for any dementias.
Recognising the urgent need for focused dementia research, Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research (CJCADR) was established in 2011, thanks to philanthropic support from the Clem Jones Foundation.
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.