Dementia now the leading cause of death in Australia

Most of us know dementia — a broad term for several disorders involving declines in memory, language and thinking — can severely affect daily life.

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But dementia is now the leading cause of death for Australians.

Earlier this month, data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found 17,400 people died in 2023 due to dementia. This is 9.5 per cent of all deaths.

But it can also be an associated factor in death, accounting for a further 15,000 deaths in 2023. This is considered dying with dementia.