One in five Aussies think dementia is inevitable. Education is needed

If policymakers want to know how to spend dementia funding, the Dementia Awareness Survey shows education is a clear priority.

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One in five Australians mistakenly believe dementia is a normal part of the ageing process, a new survey shows. 

The Dementia Awareness Survey, conducted between July and August 2023, was released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). It is the largest nationally representative community survey of its kind in Australia. 

More than eight in 10 Australians would be more likely to adopt lifestyle changes if they knew it may help them reduce their risk of dementia, the survey revealed. 

And while 83% of Aussies agreed they would adopt lifestyle changes to reduce dementia risk, only one in three felt confident in their knowledge of how to reduce that risk. 

It’s good news, given the tsunami of dementia cases coming in the next 30 years. 

In February, new modelling by the National Centre for Monitoring Dementia (NCMD) at the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare predicted the number of Australians living with dementia would increase from 421,000 in 2024 to 812,500 by 2054 – a rise of 93%. 

Younger onset dementia (diagnosed before age 65) was also tipped to rise. In 2024 the case numbers were estimated at 29,000 – by 2054 that figure is expected to rise by 41% to almost 41,000. 

The latest AIHW survey collected information on how much people know about dementia, their attitudes towards dementia and people living with dementia. 
 
“Dementia is a significant and growing health and aged care concern in Australia. More than 400,000 Australians are living with dementia and, with this number projected to double by 2058, it’s more important than ever for the community to be aware of dementia and take up lifestyle changes that may reduce their dementia risk,” said AIHW spokesperson Melanie Dunford. 
 
“Dementia has profound effects on Australians, but despite this, our survey showed that the community generally has a poor understanding of dementia and actions that can be taken to reduce their dementia risk.” 
 
Key findings of the Dementia Awareness Survey included:  

• One in five (22%) Australians mistakenly believe that dementia is a normal part of the ageing process.  
• A large proportion of people were able to recognise some ways to reduce their risk of dementia such as being physically (77%), cognitively (77%), and socially active (70%).  
• Most people (99.6%) were engaged in one or more behaviours that can reduce their dementia risk, but generally did so for other reasons. 
• Four in five people (83%) agreed that they would be more likely to adopt lifestyle changes if they knew it may help them reduce their risk of dementia. 

The survey found there were several commonly held stereotypes about people living with dementia. About two in three (67%) people believed that people living with dementia needed constant supervision and that they were unpredictable (62%). 

But it wasn’t all negative – more than eight in 10 Australians agreed that people living with dementia could enjoy life (83%) and that it was possible to enjoy interacting with people living with dementia (83%). Fewer than one in 10 people reported that they would exclude a person living with dementia. 

The survey results consistently showed that women, those with higher levels of education and income, those with a family member or friend with dementia and those who have worked with people with dementia had a higher knowledge of dementia and tended to hold less stigma towards people living with dementia. 
 
“The findings of the Dementia Awareness Survey echo the experiences reported to Dementia Australia by people living with dementia, their families and carers,” said Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe AM. 
 
“This work is an important step and reinforces the urgent need for raising awareness about dementia and risk reduction nationally, as well as tackling the stigma and discrimination that many people living with dementia tell us they experience once diagnosed.” 

Results from this survey will help inform priorities and areas for dementia awareness initiatives and prevention activities that can reduce the risk or delay the development of dementia. 
 
“By identifying which groups of people know less about dementia, education and awareness campaigns can be better targeted and more effective,” said Ms Dunford.