Dementia is the leading cause of death in Australia, but evidence shows nearly half of all cases can be delayed or prevented by addressing known risk factors.
To help Australians combat these factors, the Australian Government has launched a new campaign to help Australians better understand their own dementia risk and make simple lifestyle changes early that could dramatically lower or delay their chances of developing the condition.
Australians turning 50 will receive a letter to outline how they can reduce the risk of developing dementia and stay healthy for longer.
The letters will go to roughly 340,000 people who turned 50 between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026, with the first letters having been sent from mid-July.
The letters encourage Australians to eat healthily and stay active, limit alcohol, quit smoking, get their heart health and diabetes risk checked and keep their brain active among a range of other key factors crucial to their health.
The letter was informed through engagement with leading dementia experts alongside world-leading research from the 2024 Lancet Commission on dementia.
Recipients will also be able to get a free personal risk assessment and learn more about reducing their risk of dementia by visiting www.health.gov.au/dementia.
Almost 460,000 Australians are currently estimated to be living with dementia, and this number expected to reach 1.1 million by 2065 as our population ages.
The letter can be found on the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s website.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Health and Ageing, Mark Butler MP:
“Dementia is a national health priority for our Government.
“Growing evidence of risk factors for dementia show that the disease can be prevented or delay in around 45 per cent of cases.
“That’s why we launched a campaign to help people better understand the risk factors, by sending a letter to every Australian when they turned 50.
“50 year-olds who receive this letter will have guidance to better understand their risks, and what they can do to help reduce the chance of developing dementia.”
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors, Sam Rae MP:
“Turning 50 is a great time to stop and think about your long-term health. These letters are a simple prompt to start a conversation every Australian should be having with loved ones and their doctor.
“The science is clear that the choices we make in mid-life matter. Staying active, eating well and keeping on top of your heart health can help reduce your risk of developing dementia.
“Reaching hundreds of thousands of Australians with practical advice is exactly what the National Dementia Action Plan tasks us with doing. Together we can bring dementia numbers down and give more older Australians longer, healthier lives.”
Quotes attributable to the 2026 Senior Australian of the Year, Professor Henry Brodaty AO:
“Australia has successfully tackled some of our biggest health challenges – from skin cancer and smoking to deaths from heart attacks. Now is the time to tackle dementia.
“The evidence is in. Successful international trials, including our Maintain Your Brain trial, show that addressing dementia risk factors can improve cognitive abilities and delay decline.
“We did ‘Slip, Slop, Slap’ for skin cancer. Now let’s do it for brain health.”
Quotes attributable to Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan
“It is never too early or too late to focus on your brain health. While we cannot change getting older, our genetics or family history, scientific research shows that looking after our brain health can make a big difference to reducing the risk of developing dementia.
“Some of the modifiable risk factors for dementia surprise people, like taking action on hearing or vision loss, treating depression and staying socially connected. Making sure there are services and support to help people address risk factors is vitally important.
“We know that many Australia’s still think dementia is a normal part of ageing. We need to continue to build awareness and brain health understanding across the community. The National Dementia Helpline is a great resource for people wanting to learn more about brain health. It operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, call 1800 100 500 or visit dementia.org.au”
