Dementia is on the rise in Australia, according to new data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). A report released today by the AIHW shows a big jump in scripts dispensed for the disease over the past decade.
A total of 688,000 dementia medication prescriptions were dispensed to around 72,400 Australians aged 30 and over in 2022–23. That’s a 46 per cent increase on the 472,000 scripts dispensed in 2013–14.
Even taking into account Australia’s population increase over that period, it represents a significant jump. In 2013-14, scripts were dispensed at a rate of 34 scripts per 1000 people. That rate had risen to 42 scripts per 1000 people by 2022-23. That’s an adjusted increase of 24 per cent, which is still a huge jump.
AIHW spokesperson Melanie Dunford said dementia was a significant and growing health and aged care issue in Australia, which had a substantial impact on the health and quality of life of people with the condition, as well as their families and friends.
What’s driving dementia numbers up?
“There is currently no cure for dementia,” said Ms Dunford. “But there are strategies to manage symptoms that can assist in maintaining independence and quality of life.”
Adoption of those strategies could account for the significant rise in dementia case numbers. Rather than an increase in the number of Australians with dementia, the new data could reflect a rise in awareness.
Hospitalisations resulting from dementia have also risen, from 21,000 in 2016-17 to 26,300 in 2022-23, a 24 per cent increase. However, after adjusting for changes in the population age structure, the rate of dementia-related hospitalisations has remained steady. The current rate of around 42 per 10,000 population is the same as it was in 2016–17.
Men versus women
One notable anomaly in the data was the stark difference in the dementia-related death rate between men and women. The AIHW report showed that men are being hospitalised for the disease at a slightly higher rate. A total of 13,500 men have been hospitalised since 2016-17, compared to 12,700 women.
The number of deaths due to dementia, however, tells a very different tale. Overall, around one in 11 deaths in Australia are due to the disease. In 2022, that was represented by a total of 17,800 deaths. Of those deaths, 11,300 were women compared to just 6600 men dying due to the condition in the same year.
The report does not speculate on the reasons for the big difference.
Dying from dementia
Dementia remains one of Australia’s leading causes of death. It makes up 9.3 per cent of all deaths, behind only coronary heart disease. It was also the leading cause of death for women and for Australians aged 65 and over in 2022. However, death should not be seen as an unavoidable outcome of the disease, according to Ms Dunford.
“While the likelihood of developing dementia increases with age, dementia is not an inevitable or normal part of the ageing process,” she said.
The long term outlook
Science is making progress – albeit slowly – in its understanding and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Recently developed drugs such as lecanemab have significant limitations. Despite that, these new treatments and a group of experimental vaccines are paving the way to a world without dementia.
That long-term prognosis is promising, but for the foreseeable future, dementia will remain a significant health issue for Australia.
“With Australia’s ageing population, we may see more people living with dementia,” said Ms Dunford. In turn, she said, that will drive a need for a greater number of health services for dementia care.
Do you know someone who has been diagnosed with dementia? What healthcare options have they been provided? Let us know via the comments section below.
Also read: Lewy body dementia and its prognosis
Disclaimer: This article contains general information about health issues and is not advice. For health advice, consult your medical practitioner.
