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Embargoed until 5am, 1 September 2009
Media Release (WA)
Dementia – the major disease of this century
New report predicts over 1.1 million Australians with dementia
by 2050 – (125,000 in WA)
820 new cases of dementia every week in WA by 2050.
Dementia will account for 11% ($83bn) of health and aged care
spending by 2060
A new report by Access Economics has found that the number of Australians
diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia is expected to
quadruple to more than 1.1 million people by the year 2050.
The report Keeping Dementia Front of Mind: Incidence and Prevalence 2009 –
2050, predicted the number of people diagnosed with dementia in Western Australia
will increase from 22,000 in 2009 to over 60,000 in 2030 and will reach 125,000 by
mid-century.
Alzheimer’s Australia WA Chief Executive Officer, Frank Schaper said the report
highlighted the urgent need for the State Government and the community to take
action against the dementia epidemic.
“Dementia is a fatal condition and as yet there is no cure. Without a significant medical
breakthrough, there will be more than 370 new cases of dementia in WA every week
by 2030 and 820 new cases each week by 2050, which equates to 117 new cases
every day,” Mr Schaper said.
“The accelerating growth in the number of people with dementia will have dire
consequences for the WA health care system and the quality of life of all Western
Australians.”
Mr Schaper said the report underlines the need for further action in key areas such as
dementia research, program development and quality care services to address the
dementia epidemic.
He called upon the State Government to continue its support by investing in the
establishment of a WA Centre of Excellence in Dementia Care.
“As an organisation, we believe the response to this epidemic is to establish a world-
class centre for dementia research, education and training which will improve the
standards of care we provide to people with dementia living in our State,” he said.
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“By being strategically located at Curtin University of Technology (Bentley), the Centre
of Excellence in Dementia care will be able to provide specialised and practical
training opportunities for people involved in dementia-specialist services such as
Occupational Therapists, nurses, social workers and other health workers.”
The report also highlights the spiralling social and economic impact of dementia on a
health and care system already under growing pressure.
It found within our lifetime, neurodegenerative diseases, and in particular dementia,
will replace systemic disorders such as cardiovascular disease and cancer as major
threats to Australian health and quality of life.
Report author Lynne Pezzullo, Access Economics Director and health analyst, said
the direct care cost of dementia is already $5.4 billion and dementia will become the
third greatest source of health and residential aged care spending within two decades,
costing 1% of GDP.
“By 2060 the report estimates that spending on dementia will outstrip that of any other
health condition. It is projected to be $83 billion (in 2006-07 dollars) and will represent
around 11% of the entire health and aged care sector spending,” Ms Pezzullo said.
“Managing the challenges presented by dementia will be the overwhelming priority of
health care in the 21st century and early decisions on the future financial provisioning
of heath and aged care are critical.”
The report provides projections that highlight the importance of planning service
delivery to ensure equitable access to dementia care for those in regional Australia,
people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities and those with
younger onset dementia.
Mr Schaper said this represents a significant increase in the future demand for CALD
trained dementia care providers and culturally appropriate services in WA for the
years to come.
Professor Henry Brodaty, Director of the Primary Dementia Collaborative Research
Centre and former Chairman of Alzheimer's Disease International, said there were
now realistic prospects both of identifying people earlier at risk of dementia and of
therapeutic interventions that will delay dementia or slow its progression.
“But if that is to become a reality then significantly greater investment is needed in
dementia research,” Professor Brodaty said.
“To protect the health and care budget from a significant blowout in the decades to
come, a dramatic increase is needed in dementia research now to identify therapeutic
interventions that will prevent or modify the progression of dementia.”
For interviews with Frank Schaper, contact Joel Chan on (08) 9388 2800 or
0402 222 100
For interviews with Lynne Pezzullo please contact Josh Rosner on (02) 6278
8924 or 0407 232 212.
NEWS 
