Ruqayyah Snyder
Dementia is a syndrome that leads to a decline in the ability to process thought, beyond what is expected from the usual consequences of ageing. In 2022, around 17,800 people in Australia died due to dementia, with the number rising to 34,800 when counting those who died with dementia as an associated cause of death. Dementia was the second leading cause of death in Australia in 2023, and the leading cause of death among Australian women. The number of people with dementia in Australia is expected to more than double by 2058, from over 400,000 in 2023 to 849,300.
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What You'll Learn
- Dementia was the second leading cause of death in Australia in 2023
- Dementia death rates are higher in women than men
- Dementia was the leading cause of death among Australian women in 2023
- Dementia death rates increase with age
- COVID-19 was the leading underlying cause of death for people with dementia in 2022
Dementia was the second leading cause of death in Australia in 2023
Dementia is a syndrome that leads to a decline in the ability to process thought, beyond what is expected from the usual consequences of ageing. While ageing increases the risk of dementia, it is not a normal part of ageing. Dementia is most common among people aged 65 and older, but it can affect anyone of any age.
In 2023, dementia was the second leading cause of death in Australia. It was also the leading cause of death among Australian women. That year, there were around 411,100 people living with dementia in Australia, including approximately 257,500 women and 153,700 men. This is equivalent to 15 people with dementia per 1,000 Australians (19 per 1,000 women and 12 per 1,000 men).
The number of people with dementia in Australia is expected to more than double by 2058, with projections estimating 849,300 cases (around 315,500 men and 533,800 women). This increase is driven by the projected continued growth and ageing of Australia's population, as the condition is more common in older age groups. However, it is important to interpret these estimates with caution, as they assume no changes in the incidence of dementia and mortality rates over time.
Dementia death rates vary by state and territory, remoteness, and socioeconomic area, with higher rates observed in women than in men. The rate of deaths due to dementia increases with age, peaking at ages 90–94 and then decreasing, while the rate continues to rise across all age groups. Dementia death rates were lower in 2020, likely due to reduced transmission of other common respiratory diseases. However, between 2020 and 2022, COVID-19 became the leading underlying cause of death for people with dementia.
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Dementia death rates are higher in women than men
Dementia is a syndrome that leads to a decline in the ability to process thought, beyond what is expected from the usual consequences of ageing. While dementia can affect anyone of any age, it is most common among people aged 65 years and older. Age is the biggest risk factor for dementia, and certain factors such as education, work, and lifestyle can also influence dementia risk.
In Australia, dementia was the second leading cause of death in 2023, and the leading cause of death among Australian women. Data from 2022 shows that the rate of deaths due to dementia was higher for women than for men across all age groups. For example, among those aged 75–79, the rate of deaths was about 180 per 100,000 people for men and 185 per 100,000 people for women. This difference becomes more pronounced with age, with rates of over 4,300 and 6,400 per 100,000 people for men and women aged 95 and over, respectively.
Several factors have been proposed to explain why dementia death rates are higher in women than in men. One key factor is longevity, as women generally have longer life expectancies than men, and the risk of developing dementia increases with age. Additionally, women may be more severely affected by certain risk factors, such as the 'ApoE4' gene variant, which is associated with a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease, the most common type of dementia. Hormonal changes, high blood pressure, and physical activity levels have also been suggested as potential contributors to the higher incidence of dementia in women.
While the majority of dementia researchers are women, they face barriers in advancing to senior positions, which may impact the representation of the most affected group in research findings. Further research and understanding of gender-specific trends in dementia are crucial for developing better treatments and reducing dementia risk in the future.
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Dementia was the leading cause of death among Australian women in 2023
Dementia is a syndrome that leads to a decline in the ability to process thought, beyond what is expected from the usual consequences of ageing. It can affect anyone of any age, but it is most common among people aged 65 and older. In 2023, dementia was the second leading cause of death in Australia, and the leading cause of death among Australian women.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) estimates that in 2023, there were around 411,100 people living with dementia in Australia, including nearly 257,500 women and 153,700 men. This is equivalent to 15 people with dementia per 1,000 Australians (19 per 1,000 women and 12 per 1,000 men). With Australia's population expected to continue growing and ageing, the number of people with dementia is projected to rise. By 2058, the number of people with dementia in Australia is estimated to more than double to 849,300.
Dementia death rates by state and territory, remoteness area, and socioeconomic area are higher in women than in men. In 2022, around 17,800 people died due to dementia, including nearly 11,300 women and just under 6,600 men. The rate of deaths due to dementia increases with age, with the majority of deaths occurring among men and women aged 85-94 years. The number of deaths peaks at ages 90-94, then decreases, while the rate continues to increase across all age groups.
The discussion about dementia deaths in Australia has primarily focused on cases where dementia was the underlying cause of death. However, it is important to also consider associated causes of death, as people with dementia often have other health conditions. In 2022, around 34,800 people died with dementia as either the underlying or an associated cause, including nearly 20,500 women and over 14,300 men. This highlights the significant impact of dementia on the Australian population.
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Dementia death rates increase with age
Dementia is a syndrome that leads to a decline in the ability to process thought, beyond what is expected from the usual consequences of ageing. It can affect anyone of any age, but it is most common among people aged 65 and older. While ageing increases the risk of dementia, it is not a normal part of ageing.
In 2022, around 17,800 people in Australia died due to dementia, with the majority of deaths occurring among men and women aged 85–94 years. The rate of deaths due to dementia among those aged 75–79 was about 180 and 185 deaths per 100,000 people for men and women, respectively. This rate increased to just over 4,300 and 6,400 per 100,000 people for men and women aged 95 and over, respectively. The number of deaths peaks at ages 90–94, then decreases, while the rate continues to increase across all age groups.
The high variability in dementia care across Australia and the level of dementia awareness among healthcare and aged care workers could be factors impacting when and how dementia deaths are coded and, subsequently, when people with dementia die. Dementia death rates are higher in women than in men.
The number of people with dementia in Australia is expected to rise as the population ages. In 2023, there were an estimated 411,100 people living with dementia in Australia, including 257,500 women and 153,700 men. This number is projected to more than double by 2058, with an estimated 849,300 people expected to be living with dementia by then.
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COVID-19 was the leading underlying cause of death for people with dementia in 2022
Dementia is a syndrome that leads to a decline in the ability to process thought, and it is most common among people aged 65 years and older. In 2023, dementia was the second leading cause of death in Australia, and the leading cause of death among Australian women. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates that in 2023, there were around 411,100 people living with dementia in Australia, including 257,500 women and 153,700 men. This number is projected to increase to around 849,300 by 2058.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, if COVID-19 was certified as the cause of death, it was recorded as the underlying cause of death unless there was a clear different causal pathway. In 2020, the rate of dementia deaths was lower than in previous years, likely due to reduced transmission of other common respiratory diseases. However, between 2020 and 2022, people with dementia who died due to COVID-19 would have had dementia recorded as an associated cause of death.
In 2022, COVID-19 became the leading underlying cause of death for people with dementia for the first time. That year, around 17,800 people died due to dementia, with nearly 11,300 women and just under 6,600 men. The rate of deaths due to dementia increased with age, with the majority of deaths occurring among men and women aged 85-94 years. The number of deaths peaked at ages 90-94, then decreased, while the rate continued to increase across all age groups.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2022, around 17,800 people died due to dementia. This figure includes nearly 11,300 women and just under 6,600 men.
In 2022, around 34,800 people died with dementia as an associated cause. This figure includes nearly 20,500 women and just over 14,300 men.
In 2022, COVID-19 was the leading underlying cause of death for people with dementia.
The number of people with dementia in Australia is expected to more than double by 2058, from 411,100 in 2023 to 849,300. This increase is due to Australia's ageing population, as dementia is more common in older adults.
