Why we need dementia research
Understanding Dementia
Dementia is an umbrella term for a group of brain conditions that affect memory, learning, thinking, and daily functioning. It can affect people from all backgrounds. While early‑onset dementia does occur, it is more common as people age. At present, there is no cure.
The growing impact
How many people are affected?
- Globally, someone is diagnosed with dementia every 3.2 seconds.
- By 2030, an estimated 82 million people will be living with dementia.
- In Australia, dementia is the leading cause of death for women and is projected to become the leading cause of death overall.
- More than 430,000 Australians live with dementia, and over 1.7 million people are directly involved in their care.
The economic cost
Dementia places a significant and increasing burden on Australia’s health system and economy.
- The Australian Government estimates $3.7 billion in direct annual spending on dementia-related diagnosis, treatment, and care.
- Indirect costs—such as informal care, lost productivity, and income support—are even higher.
- By 2041, modelling from the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling suggests $9.8 billion in direct costs and $16.8 billion in indirect costs for Alzheimer’s disease alone.
The emotional cost
Families often experience profound emotional strain as dementia progresses. Loved ones may face:
- Grief as personality, communication, and memories change
- Stress, frustration, and guilt while navigating care
- Burnout from constant vigilance
- Feelings of isolation and overwhelm
Many families mourn the person they remember, even while they are still physically present.
Meeting the challenge
Addressing dementia requires coordinated action across multiple areas:
- Awareness and prevention
- Earlier and more accurate diagnosis
- Better care and support for people with dementia and their carers
- Investment in research
- A skilled workforce
- Dementia‑friendly communities
The latest Lancet Commission report suggests that almost half of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed by managing modifiable risk factors. Even so, there remains an urgent need for effective treatments and ultimately a cure.
How research is driving change
The brain is the body’s most energy‑intensive organ, and understanding how it functions is essential to tackling dementia.
Clem Jones Centre for Ageing and Dementia Research (CJCADR)
Founded in 2012 as Australia’s first dedicated dementia research centre, CJCADR investigates:
- What causes dementia
- Why some people develop it and others do not
- How to slow or stop disease progression
Researchers study dementia at the molecular, cellular, and systems levels to uncover pathways to prevention, treatment, and cure.
Breakthroughs underway
QBI’s research pipeline includes:
- A new ultrasound therapy, which has successfully completed Phase 1 clinical trials
- Studies on how exercise may delay cognitive decline
- Development of a Tau antibody as a potential immunotherapy
- New insights into how the brain changes in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, opening pathways to future treatments
QBI continues to support discoveries that move us closer to therapies capable of halting or reversing dementia—work that has the potential to improve millions of lives worldwide.
