Being mentally healthy is important at any age, whether you're young, old, or somewhere in between. However, upon reaching middle age, changes in the brain start to occur. While we can't fight ageing, genetics, or family history, scientific evidence shows that adjusting specific health and lifestyle choices can significantly reduce or postpone the onset of dementia.

What is Dementia?

Dementia is a word used to describe the characteristics of a wide set of disorders that causes an individual’s ability to function normally to decrease over time. It's a comprehensive term that refers to a loss of memory, cognition, reasoning, social skills, and physical abilities. Vascular dementia, Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, and Lewy body disease are all examples of dementia. Anyone can get dementia, although it is more frequent after the age of 65.

Various types of dementia have different effects on people, and each person will have a unique set of symptoms. However, there are a few common early signs that might occur before a dementia diagnosis. Here are some of them:

•  Having trouble concentrating

•  Difficulty in carrying out familiar tasks

•  Confusion about time and place

•  Struggling to communicate or follow a conversation flow

•  Sudden mood changes

The symptoms listed above are frequently mild, and they may only become worse over time. Because the signs aren't serious enough to be classified as dementia, it's commonly referred to as "mild cognitive impairment" (MCI). If you experience these symptoms, you may not recognise them, and your family and friends may also not notice them. In addition, these symptoms may persist rather than worsen in some individuals.

Dementia in Australia

According to the Dementia in Australia 2021 report, “using the AIHW estimates for the number of people with dementia, nearly two-thirds of the 386,200 Australians with dementia in 2021 were women and one-third were men (243,200 women and 143,000 men). Overall, this is equivalent to 15 people with dementia per 1,000 Australians (18 per 1,000 for women and 11 per 1,000 for men).”

The continuous rise and ageing of Australia's population is projected to result in an increase in the number of individuals with dementia over time, as the condition becomes more frequent as people become older and predominantly affects the elderly. By 2030, the number of individuals with dementia is anticipated to rise to between 550,000 and 590,000. And by 2058, the number of people living with dementia in Australia is expected to double, from 386,200 in 2021 to 849,300 (533,800 women and 315,500 men).

Moreover, because there is no specific authoritative data source that can offer an accurate estimate of the number of Australians living with dementia, figures vary widely between research and may differ from those included in the report.

Dementia in New Zealand

Dementia affects over 70,000 New Zealanders, and the number is quickly increasing as the population ages. Moreover, dementia is a chronic illness that affects people in various ways. Anyone can be affected at any age, although it becomes more frequent as you become older. As mentioned earlier, dementia comes in various forms, but many of them may be delayed or controlled with the right medicines and lifestyle modifications.

It is estimated that by 2050, more than 170,000 people in New Zealand will have dementia. Additionally, it is expected to affect 170,212 people or 2.9 percent of the population. Males account for 41% of the total, while females account for 59%. According to research, new care approaches are urgently needed if the government wishes to decrease the illness’s huge human and financial costs.