TOOWOOMBA DEMENTIA CASES SET TO TRIPLE
TOOWOOMBA’s dementia rate is expected to triple over the next four decades, costing our region about $325 million a year.
Experts say simple lifestyle changes would drastically reduce the cost that is about $35,550 a year for each patient.
NewsRegional analysis of Alzheimer’s Australia data shows about 3176 Toowoomba residents have dementia and that figure is expected to reach 9165 by 2056.
Economic modelling reveals the disease costs our region about $113 million a year and this will hit $325.8 million in 39 years.
Dementia is the second leading cause of death in our country.
University of Canberra research shows if Australia can reduce the number of people with the disease by 5%, the country would save $120 billion by 2046.
“A whole-of-community approach to risk reduction, and better coordinated care, along with a boost to research, is going to be needed if we are to curb the rise in people living with dementia by 2056,” UC National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM) Professor Laurie Brown said.
Alzheimer’s Australia national CEO Maree McCabe said getting more Toowoomba residents to reassess their diet and exercise levels would help reduce the disease locally.
“Dementia has a significant impact on the economy and there are also significant personal and social impacts,” Ms McCabe said.
“The main way to lower the cost is reduction and prevention.
“There is evidence that diet and exercise are important in reducing your risk of getting dementia.
“We know that if we can delay the onset of dementia by just five years there would be millions of people who would ... never get dementia.”
OzCare Queensland provides services across regional, rural and metropolitan centres.
State co-ordinator Karen Constant said the State and Federal governments had made a commitment to funding the organisation’s work until 2020.
Ms Constant said having more local resources and professionals to diagnose the disease earlier and having strong support systems in place were vital as our region’s dementia numbers grew.
“It’s a very complex disease to diagnose and to prevent,” she said.
“Dementia starts to develop in the brain 20 years before symptoms become apparent.
“We can talk about prevention, challenging our brain, good sleep, exercise and diet but current research is looking at what interventions are best at what time throughout our life.”
Local dementia professional Deborah McLachlan said a diagnosis of the disease did not mean lives would change overnight.
“There might be slight changes in personality or behaviour and they might become less motivated to do things that they have previously enjoyed,” the Alzheimer’s Australia development officer said.
“As the disease advances the changes become more profound.”