New data released by Dementia Australia for Brain Awareness Week 2025 reveals Australians are largely unaware that hearing loss, depression and high cholesterol are risk factors for dementia.
Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan said dementia was on track to become the country’s biggest cause of death within the next five years.
The organisation is urgently calling on the Federal Government to fund a national discussion about brain health and dementia prevention.
“People with mild-severe hearing loss are two to five times as likely to develop dementia than those with normal hearing,” Prof Buchanan said.
The Dementia Australia website expands: “People with mild hearing loss are twice as likely to develop dementia than those with normal hearing, and people with severe hearing loss are up to five times more likely.
“There is also research suggesting a link between vision impairment and dementia in later life.
“These links aren’t well understood yet, but research is ongoing. If you have hearing or vision loss, you’re not guaranteed to develop dementia, you just have a higher risk. Taking care of your hearing and vision can help you reduce your risk of developing dementia.”
Unaware of proactive steps
A recent iPsos survey of Australian attitudes towards dementia found that many Australians remained unaware that proactive steps can help reduce dementia risk.
Prof Buchanan said the 2024 update of the Lancet Commission on dementia identified 14 modifiable risk factors which, if addressed effectively, could reduce dementia incidence globally by 45 per cent.
Risk factors included smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, hearing loss, high cholesterol and depression.
“While we cannot change getting older, genetics or family history, scientific research shows that looking after our brain health can make a big difference to reducing or delaying the risk of developing dementia,” she said.
Dementia is the second leading cause of death in Australia and there are currently 433,300 Australians living with the condition, she said.
“Dementia is a chronic condition which must be treated with the same health investment as other major chronic conditions,” Prof Buchanan said. “It’s the leading health, disability and aged care issue facing Australia. It impacts Australians across their life and nearly 30,000 Australians live with younger onset dementia.
“The research is clear that dementia is a condition that starts many decades before symptoms appear, so it is vital that all Australians understand the importance of maintaining brain health throughout our lives.
“It is never too early or too late to reduce your dementia risk.”
Peter, who lives with younger onset dementia, was shocked to learn that hearing loss could contribute to dementia, especially as he has lived with an incurable hearing disorder for the past two decades.
“If we can get the message out there, to help people identify small changes they can make in their every day – we might just save a life,” Peter said.
He said his focus now was to live as well as possible with dementia. “I’m trying to live life to the full – playing golf, spending time with my family and friends, and getting out into the world.”
Looking after brain health slows cognitive decline
Professor Henry Brodaty AO, Dementia Australia Honorary Medical Advisor, recently led a clinical trial that has definitively shown that looking after brain health slows cognitive decline.
The University of New South Wales Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing trial – Maintain Your Brain – tested whether effectively addressing some of the modifiable risk factors for dementia resulted in better cognition in older adults over a three-year period.
“The outcome was a resounding yes – we can improve cognition over three years and, therefore, likely enhance resilience to dementia,” Prof Brodaty said.
Brain Awareness Week in Australia from 10 to 14 March 2025 is based on the global Brain Awareness Week campaign from 10 to 16 March 2025.
Find out more about modifiable risk factors that can make a difference to brain health including how protecting your hearing can help reduce dementia risk.
For more information call the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 (24 hours, seven days a week, interpreter service available) or visit dementia.org.au
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