Dementia becomes Australia's top cause of death, surpassing heart disease

Latest mortality data show dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, has become the foremost cause of death in Australia, surpassing coronary heart disease for the first time. Over 19,000 deaths were recorded, roughly 1,500 more than the previous year, pushing the share of total deaths above 10%, according to Lauren Moran of the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Since 2006 the dementia death rate has almost doubled, and women now account for 61% of these fatalities, holding the top spot for female deaths since 2016.

Dementia Australia’s chief executive, Tanya Buchanan, urged immediate expansion of services, funding, and public awareness, highlighting that about 446,500 Australians currently live with the condition and that 1.7 million caregivers are involved. She warned that without substantial intervention the affected population could rise to over one million by 2065. The report also listed other leading causes of death and noted a modest increase in drug-induced fatalities, particularly from stimulants.