Dementia Australia has welcomed its newest Ambassador, Adam Harvey. A nine-time Golden Guitar Award winner, has a deeply personal connection to dementia. His mother’s diagnosis inspired him to write his heartfelt song, Remember Me.
New data released by Dementia Australia for Brain Health Week shows that Australians are largely unaware that common health issues such as hearing loss, depression and high cholesterol are risk factors for dementia.
Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan said that dementia is the second leading cause of death for all Australians and there are currently 433,300 Australians living with the condition.
“Dementia is on track to become the country’s biggest cause of death within the next five years. While we cannot change getting older, genetics or family history, scientific research shows that looking after our brain health can make a big difference to reducing or delaying the risk of developing dementia,” Professor Buchanan said.
Last year, the Lancet Commission identified 14 modifiable risk factors which, if addressed effectively, could reduce dementia incidence globally by 45 per cent.
The risk factors include smoking, obesity and physical inactivity as well as factors such as hearing loss, high cholesterol and depression.
“In fact, people with mild-severe hearing loss are two to five times as likely to develop dementia than those with normal hearing,” Professor Buchanan said.
“It is never too early or too late to reduce your dementia risk. It’s a chronic condition which must be treated with the same health investment as other major chronic conditions, Professor Buchanan said.
Find out more about the modifiable risk factors that can make a big difference to your brain health: dementia.org.au/brainhealth/reducing-your-risk-dementia
If this story has prompted any questions or concerns, call the National Dementia Helpline 1800 100 500 (24 hours, 7 days a week) or visit dementia.org.au.