Dementia is a condition that's widely known but not widely understood, according to Alzheimer's Australia CEO, Maree McCabe.
She says people diagnosed with the condition are often stigmatised.
"Getting a diagnosis of dementia can be a profoundly isolating experience, and that as the condition progresses, family and friends drop off and there's a high level stigma that still exists in the community, and what that leads to is social isolation both for the person living with dementia and the carer."
In fact, a study by Alzheimer's Australia reveals people with dementia - and their carers - are significantly lonelier than the rest of the population.
Dementia is a condition which affects thinking, behaviour and the ability to perform everyday tasks.
It has many forms, each with its own causes.
Some of the most common types of dementia include Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's disease.
There are more than 350,000 Australians with dementia - and more than a million people involved in their care.
Health experts are encouraging people with dementia and their carers to reach out for support and help.
They also want members of the community to learn more about the condition.
Ms MacCabe says language, too, can be a problem.
"Sometimes what happens when people have dementia and they speak a second language, is that they actually revert to their language of origin, and that can be isolating for people if they're not living in a community that is culturally supportive and culturally aware. And that's one of the reasons that we want to raise awareness, we want to be sure that people are well-connected to the groups are important to them and that they have the level of support that keeps them engaged in the community and doing the things that are important."
Meanwhile, researchers in Switzerland say they are one step closer to helping people with Alzheimer's - the most common form of dementia.
The results of a new drug trial have revealed it may be possible to clear the brain of the protein linked to the development of the disease.
But the findings, outlined in the scientific journal Nature, need to be confirmed in larger studies before being offered to patients.
A doctor at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London, Dr Cath Mummery, is about to take part in the next stage of the trial.
She says the early results are promising.
"If this is successful, if we can show improvement or delay in symptom progression in people with Alzheimer's Disease, that's a game-changer. That changes everything about the way we think about managing trials, managing treatments for people with Alzheimer's Disease."
The drug targets one of the key characteristics of Alzheimer's disease - the build-up of a damaging protein inside the neurons.
A year of treatment with the new drug showed that the protein virtually disappeared.
It doesn't repair damage to the brain, but could stop the disease from progressing.
Bigger studies are needed.
There have been several treatments in the past for Alzheimer's which have similarly shown promise; all have ultimately failed.
If this drug is successful, it would be the first drug to stop the disease.
