Dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, is on track to become Australia's leading cause of death, surpassing heart disease.

In 2023, dementia was the leading cause of death among women, accounting for 12.2% of all female fatalities.

The total number of deaths in Australia for 2023 reached 183,131, with coronary heart disease previously leading at 9.2%.

Lauren Moran, head of mortality statistics at the ABS, attributes these changes to advancements in medical treatment and an ageing population.

There are urgent calls from communities and governments to enhance awareness and understanding of dementia.

Currently, around 421,000 Australians live with dementia, a figure projected to exceed 812,500 by 2054 without significant intervention.

Suicide remains a significant concern, accounting for 3,214 deaths in 2023, with men making up over three-quarters of the victims.

Heart disease deaths decreased to 16,922, while deaths from dementia and Alzheimer's rose to 16,685, indicating a significant shift in mortality trends.

Dementia is now very close to heart disease as the leading cause of death, with only a 250 death difference reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Research from Dementia Australia indicates that one in three people mistakenly believe dementia is a normal part of aging, highlighting a critical lack of public understanding.

Stigma and discrimination associated with dementia can deter individuals from seeking healthcare and diagnoses, further complicating the issue.

Suicide continues to be the leading cause of premature death in Australia, with a rate of 12.1 per 100,000 people reported in 2023.