Women’s health study warns on doubling of dementia rates
A long-term study on women’s health will be expanded amid warnings that dementia rates could double in the next 20 years.
The prediction was contained in a new female health policy, released by the Gillard Government, and reported in The Australian. The report aims to prevent chronic disease and target indigenous females, who have the poorest health.
The policy warns that the ageing of the female population in the next 20 years could have profound impacts on the health and Medicare systems.
“Projections indicate that women will make up an increasing proportion of the old and very old segment of the Australian population over time,” the policy document says.
“The ageing of the female population will have a significant impact on the Australian health system. For example, the burden of disease associated with dementia in women is estimated to double in the next 20 years.”
The policy found anxiety and depression was the biggest burden on women’s health, with 10% of the total burden.
Heart disease was next with 8.9%, followed by stroke 5.1%; type 2 diabetes 4.9%; dementia 4.8%; and breast cancer 4.8%.
By comparison, heart disease and type 2 diabetes were the biggest disease burdens for men, with anxiety and depression coming in third.
Health Minister, Nicola Roxon, announced $5.3 million to continue the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health, which has been examining long-term female health outcomes.
