Dementia cases to triple by 2050 – 14 risk factors to watch for

Australian actor Chris Hemsworth learnt in 2022 that he carries two sets of the gene ApoE4, one from each of his parents, making him 10 times more likely than average to develop Alzheimer's disease.

For someone aged 60-64 in Australia, the risk of dementia is about 15 in 1,000 rising to 429 per 1,000 for those over 90 years old.

Some experts say Australia needs to focus on prevention and strengthening primary care to effectively deal with the projected rise in dementia.

All around us right now, a little over 410,000 Australians are living with the four main forms of dementia: Alzheimer's, vascular, frontotemporal and Lewy body dementia caused by Parkinson's disease. As Australia's population ages and expands, this figure is predicted to double by the 2050s.

It's a reality that is particularly poignant for women: Dementia is the leading cause of death for women who make up 63 per cent of dementia cases in Australia.

One of the keys to reducing the odds of developing dementia is addressing 14 modifiable risk factors that can be tackled with lifestyle changes or medication and can be effective in preventing or delaying the onset of dementia in as many as 45 per cent of cases.