Dementia remains Australia’s leading cause of death, with new national data showing the disease’s impact is growing faster than almost any other major health condition. Australia’s dementia challenge is becoming increasingly urgent, with new figures revealing the number of people living with the condition could climb to almost 1.1 million within the next four decades. Updated data released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) shows dementia remains Australia’s leading cause of death and is now the nation’s second biggest contributor to overall disease burden, behind only coronary heart disease. The report estimates around 446,500 Australians were living with dementia in 2024. Without significant advances in prevention, treatment or care, that number is projected to almost triple to around 1.1 million by 2066.