During Brain Awareness Week 2025, leading research bodies and advocacy groups are calling for urgent action on one of the country’s fastest-growing public health challenges: dementia. Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), the Brain Foundation, and the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) are among those raising the alarm over rising dementia rates and the broader impact of neurological conditions.
Dementia currently costs Australian society between $16 and $18 billion per year. That figure is projected to grow to $37 billion by mid-century, reflecting a sharp increase in cases. It is the leading cause of death among Australian women and the second leading cause of death overall. Despite the soaring costs and emotional toll, there are still no effective treatments. Surveys show dementia is the most feared medical condition among older Australians.
“Preventive healthcare is the cornerstone of lifelong brain health,” says Trevor Thompson, CEO, at the Brain Foundation. “Through education and awareness, Australians can take control of their brain health by understanding risk factors, recognising early symptoms, and seeking medical advice when needed.”
NeuRA’s Chief Executive Officer and Institute Director, Professor Matthew Kiernan, AM—also President of the Brain Foundation—is a distinguished clinical academic known for his expertise in motor neuron disease and frontotemporal dementia. Researchers at NeuRA have spent over 30 years examining dementia, mental health and other critical areas such as spinal cord injury and pain management. The institute houses world-class facilities including the Sydney Brain Bank and NeuRA Imaging, further advancing research on prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Meanwhile, the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) emphasises the need for collective research efforts. Professors Perminder Sachdev and Henry Brodaty, Co-Directors of CHeBA, say large-scale studies are key to reducing dementia’s future cost and burden. Personal accounts from individuals living with neurological conditions bring the statistics to life:
“It terrifies me to think that what happened to my Mom, at such a young age, could eventually happen to me. But I don’t want to live my life in fear. Instead, I make healthy choices every day,” said CHeBA Ambassador Keri Kitay, author of The Long Goodbye and daughter of Terry Kitay, who was diagnosed with young onset Alzheimer’s disease in her 50s.
In response to these realities, researchers are turning to technology for solutions. Associate Professor Anupama Ginige from Western Sydney University’s School of Computer, Data, and Mathematical Sciences is applying her expertise in health-focused IT to help prevent cognitive decline. She played a key role in the Maintain Your Brain project, led by CHeBA—one of the largest internet-based clinical trials aimed at slowing or preventing dementia.
“Gathering requirements from the various module leads, we needed to develop and extensively test the system to ensure it was user-friendly for older adults who may not be tech-savvy,” said Associate Professor Ginige.
By delivering personalised lifestyle interventions online, the trial targeted risk factors such as physical inactivity, poor nutrition, limited cognitive activity, and mental health issues. As researchers continue to share promising outcomes, they underscore the value of cross-disciplinary collaboration to advance dementia prevention, diagnosis and care.
Read also: Peak organisations spotlight allied health role in dementia
Ritchelle is a Content Producer for Healthcare Channel, Australia’s premier resource of information for healthcare.
