INTERVIEW: Brain health focus from 20s and 30s 'critical' in preventing dementia

With dementia now confirmed as the leading cause of death in Australia, advocates are calling on the federal government to fund a public health campaign to promote brain health. The CEO of Dementia Australia, professor Tanya Buchanan, speaks to Blake Quinn about what the data is showing and what Australians should be doing to reduce the risk of getting the brain condition.

Tanya Buchanan is the CEO of Dementia Australia. Source: Supplied / Dementia Australia

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Dementia is now the number one cause of death for Australians, overtaking heart disease.

With the numbers projected to double to more than 1.1 million by 2065, advocates are calling for a specific national strategy on brain health.

There are currently no curative treatment options for dementia, and First Nations Australians and women are among the groups more at risk.

The CEO of Dementia Australia, Tanya Buchanan, has co-authored a letter in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health on why a public health campaign is needed to respond to the particular challenges associated with tackling dementia.

She spoke with Blake Quinn.