Preventative health the key to combating dementia epidemic

Yesterday, Alzheimer’s Australia called on both major parties to urgently commit to a National Dementia Preventative Health Strategy to reduce the projected one million Australians who will have dementia by 2050.
 
Many Australians fear developing dementia as they age commented Alzheimer’s Australia chief executive officer, Glenn Rees.

“A recent survey undertaken by Bupa Care Services found that four out of five Australians over 50 years of age have this fear,” Mr Rees said.

“Dementia develops many years before diagnosis. The opportunity is there for Australians to possibly reduce their risk of dementia.

“Around 50% of Australians are unaware that they may be able to reduce their risk of dementia. That could be by, for example, reducing their high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels,” he said.

“The Australian Government must frame a public preventative health policy that recognises the link between lifestyle and the risk of developing chronic illness, including dementia. Australians should be clearly informed that their lifestyle choices affect their physical health and their brain health.”

Compared to other chronic diseases, dementia research is grossly under funded in Australia.

Alzheimer’s Australia also released a discussion paper, Towards a National Dementia Preventative Health Strategy, which outlines the urgent need for a national preventative health campaign.

“We are seeking $4.5 million over three years to roll out Mind Your Mind nationally. This is a small price to pay to raise awareness and educate Australians about dementia risk reduction,” Mr Rees said.

Mind Your Mind is Alzheimer’s Australia’s dementia risk reduction program that promotes awareness among Australians on how they may be able to reduce their risk of dementia through lifestyle behaviours.

“With the cost of dementia care set to outstrip any other health condition, the new strategy not only makes sense in terms of reducing the numbers of people with dementia, but also because of the potential impact on the health care budget.

“Australia and other countries have responded to the fear of cancer by an attitude of ‘let’s beat it’ through considerable investment in medical research. The same positive attitude is necessary to address the dementia epidemic.”

Increased research funding is needed to identify those most at risk of dementia and to develop medical interventions that would modify the progression of the disease.

“Australia was the first country in the world to give dementia a national profile with the implementation of the 2005 Dementia Initiative: Making Dementia a National Health Priority,” Mr Rees said.

“This is another way for Australia to take leadership.”