Dementia: Prevalence, Impact and Prevention in Australia

The assignment provides an overview of dementia in Australia, including its prevalence, impact on the population, and the cost of burdening disease. It also discusses the Australian government's policies aimed at preventing dementia, such as the preventive health policy and the national framework for action on dementia. The document concludes with a discussion of the importance of addressing this issue and the need for effective policies to prevent dementia.

Running head: DEMENTIA 1
Dementia
Name
Institution

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Dementia
Dementia is a term used to describe a collection of symptoms which cause disorders that
affect the brain. It is characterized by extensive impairment of the mental function, social
function, communication, memory, and emotions. It is the key cause of deaths of Australians
which is 5.4 percent males and 10.6 females each year (Bush et al., 2016). Indigenous population
experience dementia at a rate of three times higher than nonindigenous population. Indigenous
populations aged 45 years has a prevalence of 12.4 percent of dementia and 26.8 percent for
those aged over 65years. The rate of the disorder among males is 62% and those without formal
education is 80%. Concerning the nonindigenous populations, the prevalence of dementia is 4.1
for males aged 45 years and below and 8.9 percent for those aged 65 years and above. Even
though it is affecting the all Australian population, dementia prevalence is high among
indigenous community.
In 2013, dementia became the second leading cause of the deaths in Australia. It is
predicted that in some years to come dementia would be the leading cause of deaths. In 2015,
there were 15052 deaths of which 12625 were linked to dementia. It is equivalent to 35 deaths
per day. People who died of dementia were likely to be over 85years and majority of them were
female. Dementia is the chief cause of burden of diseases both in men and women Australia.
Studies from ABD indicate that in 2011, dementia was the principal root of disease burden
contributing to 3.4 percent, the total DALYs was 15308 of all burdens of diseases encountered
by Australian citizens. Nevertheless, when age is put into consideration, dementia is a crucial
cause of disease burden for people 75 years and above (Yates et al., 2017). Additionally, the
years of life lost through untimely mortality resulting from dementia accounts to some extent

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more than half of the total burden of disease from dementia in the affected individuals. Dementia
was placed top leading cause of years of life lost as compared to years of life lived with
disability. However, women contribute 63 percent of the burden of disease as compared to men
who have got 37 percent and slight bias in regards to YLD 66 percent and YLL 61 percent. As
the prevalence and incidence of dementia in Australia go up, it will be the significant primary
cause of burden of disease in elderly people.
In a period of eight years, 2003-2011, the burden of disease from dementia among males
rose up by 65 percent and 58 in females. The findings indicate a growth rate of 8.1 percent per
annum. Studies done in 2016 indicate that the burden cost of dementia is $5 billion. The burden
cost is very high among the aged population as compared to the young generation. Due to a high
number of cases of dementia among elderly people, they have a high number of deaths.
Australian government have come up with different policies which are aimed at
preventing dementia. In 2016 preventive health policy was welcomed. The policy focused on the
handling of the chronic ailments by tackling the common adaptable risk factors which
encompass physical inactivity, poor nutrition, use of alcohol and tobacco (Davis et al., 2017).
The policy will further focus on bringing awareness of the risks factors linked to dementia.
National framework for action on dementia 2015-2019 was developed by the Australian health
advisory council with an aim to advance the lives of persons living with dementia alongside their
caregivers. However, the health framework targeted to offer a guide to development and
executions of actions and policies to minimize the risks of dementia (Fortinsky & Downs, 2014).
It achieved this by drawing on current evidence to enhance dementia friendly communities and
delivery of consumer-oriented care. In 2005, the government of Australia pumped $320 million

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of funds to a five-year project called dementia initiative. The program aimed at supporting
individuals with dementia and their caregivers via three measures which encompass new training
for health professionals, development of the high level of community care places and improved
care initiatives. The programs became a landmark for people living with dementia because it
acknowledged the scale of the issue and the effect on the quality of lives of Australian people
(Brodaty, & Cumming, 2010). Conclusively, in 2012 the govern also published its living longer
living better-aged care strategy alongside 43.7 billion for a period of five years to tackle a
dementia epidemic in the country.

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References
Bush, A. I., Fink, G., & Lei, P. (2016). Dementia Research Australia: the Australian Dementia
Research Development Fellowship Program. Journal of Molecular Neuroscience, 60(3),
277-278.
Davis, S. J., Campbell, A. M., & Capp, R. (2017). A national Approach to Dementia Care
Practice Improvement. Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's
Association, 13(7), P1467-P1468.
Fortinsky, R. H., & Downs, M. (2014). Optimizing person-centered transitions in the dementia
journey: A comparison of national dementia strategies. Health Affairs, 33(4), 566-573.
Yates, M. W., Theobald, M., Morval, M., MacDermott, S., Watts, J. J., Mohebbi, M., & Brodaty,
H. (2017). A NATIONAL EVALUATION OF THE DEMENTIA CARE IN
HOSPITALS PROGRAM. Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's
Association, 13(7), P1467.