Australians want dementia early warning

New research published in the latest Pfizer Australia Health Report has found that almost three quarters of all Australians would take a test (if available) to reveal if they are going to develop Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, shedding some light on their health in older age.

The research shows that on average, people would like to know by the age of 41 if they will develop Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia and women are more likely than men to want to be informed.

According to the national executive director of Alzheimer’s Australia, Glenn Rees, these findings are surprising and encouraging. “Early diagnosis of those most at risk is increasingly important particularly as new treatments that modify the progression of dementia become available. We strongly support early diagnosis because it enables people with dementia to make decisions about their finances and future care, before their decision making capacity becomes impaired.”

But while the number of Australians with dementia, including Alzheimer’s, is expected to increase dramatically in line with our ageing population, the majority are doing little to prepare for it.

The research reveals that despite wanting to know if they will develop Alzheimer’s or dementia, almost two thirds of Australians between 51 and 60 years of age have not discussed their future care arrangements with family or friends and almost one in five of all Australians in the same age group, do not have any legal or financial planning arrangements in place for later in life.

Currently without any cure, Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia most commonly affect people over the age of 65 but can develop in people as young as 35.

‘It’s crucial that community attitudes start to change through people becoming better informed about the importance of advance planning for their health, their money and future care and how to set about it,” explained Mr Rees.

Almost half of all Australians (47%) know a family member or friend who has Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia and encouragingly 90% feel there is something that can be done to reduce their risk of developing the disease. In spite of this however, 48% percent don’t know whether medication can help in treating the condition.

“It’s positive to learn that so many Australians feel that they can do something to reduce their risk of developing dementia such as Alzheimer’s but concerning that so few actually know how. These results argue strongly for a national initiative to promote a greater understanding of the contribution lifestyle changes may make to reducing the risk of dementia,” Mr Rees noted.