Dementia becomes Australia's leading cause of death for first time
Canberra, November 15
Dementia was the leading cause of death in Australia in 2024, becoming the country's top killer disease for the first time on record, according to official data released on Friday.
The data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) revealed that dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, overtook ischaemic heart disease as the country's leading cause of death last year.
Of the 187,268 deaths registered in Australia in 2024, the ABS said that 17,549 were attributed to dementia.
The number of deaths caused by dementia has increased by over 160 per cent from 6,550 in 2006, while the number of deaths caused by heart diseases has fallen by 29.6 per cent over the same period from 23,132 to 16,275 in 2024.
The ABS attributed the rise of dementia as a cause of death to Australia's ageing population. It said that 68.2 per cent of all deaths in 2024 were people aged over 75 years, up from 63.3 per cent in 2004.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare said in a report released in September that the number of Australians living with dementia is expected to increase from 425,000 in 2024 to more than one million by 2065.
Chronic lower respiratory diseases were the third-most common cause of death in 2024, followed by cerebrovascular diseases and lung cancers. (ANI/WAM)
— ANI
Reader Comments
Heart disease deaths falling by 29.6% shows medical progress, but dementia rising 160% is alarming! We need more research funding for brain health globally. India should learn from this data and invest in elderly care infrastructure.
As someone with grandparents in both India and Australia, this hits close to home. The emotional impact of watching loved ones fade away is heartbreaking. More awareness and support systems needed everywhere.
While this data is from Australia, it's a wake-up call for India too. With our aging population and changing family structures, we need to seriously think about elderly care policies. Traditional joint families can't handle this alone anymore.
The statistics are staggering - expected to reach 1 million dementia patients by 2065! This isn't just a health issue but a massive social and economic challenge. Early detection and preventive care should be priorities.
Respectfully, I feel the article misses discussing lifestyle factors. In India, we're seeing dementia in younger people too. Diet, stress, pollution - all contribute. Prevention is as important as treatment! ðŸ§
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