ADVERTORIAL: National Dementia Action Week

DURING Dementia Action Week, organisers and health professionals are keen to bust one of the biggest fallacies – that memory loss is  simply a part of getting older.

The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) president Dr Rod Martin says people should not wait until they are certain something is wrong before seeking advice.

“Changes in memory or thinking can be confronting, and it can be tempting to put them down to getting older or avoid talking about them altogether,” Dr Martin says.

“But dementia is not a normal part of ageing, and there can be many reasons why someone’s memory, thinking or behaviour changes.

“If you’ve noticed something that concerns you — in yourself, your partner, a parent or someone else you care about — talk to your doctor.

Dementia is Australia’s leading cause of death, but it is not a topic that everyone feels comfortable talking about. During Dementia Action Week 2026, which runs from Monday, September 21 to Sunday, September 27, the goal is to start conversations, raise understanding of the illness, reduce the stigma, and help people find the care and support that is available.

With close to half a million Australians living with dementia and an estimated 1,700,000 people involved in dementia care, dementia touches most of our lives in some way.

Dementia Australia Advocate Gina Callan, who lives with dementia, says conversations about dementia don’t have to be grounded in expertise to be meaningful and valuable.

“Curiosity encourages conversations,” Gina said.

“Asking questions, listening and being open to different experiences can help build understanding and reduces the stigma that surrounds dementia.

” Spending time with people who live with dementia can help others understand what we want them to know and can help answer the questions they might be too afraid to ask directly.”

Dementia is a collection of symptoms caused by disorders that affect the brain. It’s not one specific disease and it’s much more common after the age of 65.

The effects of dementia vary from person to person but generally affect people’s mood, memory, thinking and behaviour.

Hereditary dementia is rare but does occur, depending on the cause of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is one medical condition that causes dementia symptoms and one in three people who experience Alzheimer’s have a parent or sibling who received a diagnosis.

But, in reality, it can happen to anyone.

This year’s Dementia Action Week theme, “It’s time to talk about dementia,” has particular relevance for rural and remote communities, where access to specialist dementia services can be more difficult.

“Seeing your doctor doesn’t mean you have dementia,” Dr Martin says.

“It means starting a conversation about what’s changed and working out what needs to happen next.

“And if dementia is diagnosed, your local doctor can continue to be there for you and your family throughout the journey.”

YouGov research, commissioned by Dementia Australia, found that more than half of respondents report having little to no knowledge about dementia, and, while close to all respondents are aware of dementia, only one in 10 say they know a lot about it.

“The research also found that eight in 10 respondents who had a personal connection to dementia say that they or someone they know has experienced stigma, exclusion, disrespect or unequal treatment; including assumptions being made about what someone can or cannot do, or being left out of social activities,” said Dementia Australia Chief Executive Officer Professor Tanya Buchanan.

“Through conversations, such as those we’re asking you to have this Dementia Action Week, we can work to dismantle this stigma and instead create a more welcoming and inclusive dementia-friendly Australia.”

Dementia Australia Chief Executive Officer Professor Tanya Buchanan.

This week, Dementia Australia is asking everyone to join the conversation. Everyone has a voice and a role to play, and every conversation will make a difference to people living with dementia, their families and carers.

Dementia Action Week 2026 runs from 21 – 27 September. World Alzheimer’s Day is on 21 September.

For more information about how to get involved with Dementia Action Week, visit dementia.org.au/get-involved/dementia-action-week

For dementia information and support contact the National Dementia Helpline anytime on 1800 100 500 or visit dementia.org.au World Alzheimer’s Day on Monday 21 September. World Alzheimer’s Day is on Monday 21 September 2026.