Dementia Action Week 2026

Dementia action week is run 21 – 27 September, 2026.

“Dementia is Australia’s leading cause of death, but it’s not talked about nearly enough. This Dementia Action Week, we’re asking every Australian to help change that, one conversation at a time.”

What is dementia?

Dementia describes a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking, and social abilities. Alzheimer’s is a specific degenerative disease that physically damages brain cells. All people with Alzheimer’s have dementia, but not everyone with dementia has Alzheimer’s.

Dementia is typically diagnosed through a combination of patient history, cognitive testing and diagnostic procedures.

Dementia in Australia: Quick stats

446,500 People living with dementia in Australia
1,700,000 People involved in dementia care in Australia
#1 Leading cause of death in Australia
In 2026 there are an estimated 446,500 Australians living with dementia. (Without a significant intervention, the number of Australians living with dementia is expected to increase to more than 1 million by 2065.)

Understanding dementia risk factors

There are a range of modifiable (lifestyle) and non-modifiable (age, genetics) determinants that increase the risk of dementia. Favourably, about half of the risk for dementia comes from potentially modifiable risk factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, diabetes, hypertension and depression, which can all be managed by amending your lifestyle.

How exercise can help your brain health

Exercise has the ability to release growth factors (which improve the health of brain cells and blood vessels in the brain) and decrease inflammation.

10 really great benefits of how exercise can help your brain health:

Exercise can help you to sleep better
It can reduce your brain shrinking
Exercise reduces stress
It can help build your brain
Exercise improves mental health
It can make you smarter
Exercise promotes more years lived symptom free for those that have a predisposition to developing dementia.
Reduces the risk factors associated with the development of dementia including metabolic diseases such as diabetes, obesity in mid-life, hypertension and depression.
Exercise can help manage symptoms in those with brain disorders or neurological conditions
It can protect your brain in the long run

Getting started with exercise

If you want to exercise or know someone who does but aren’t sure how to get started, please book an appointment with one of our Accredited Exercise Physiologists today. They can help show you how to exercise at a safe and appropriate intensity and start enjoying the physical, mental and emotional benefits.

How an Accredited Exercise Physiologist can help

AEPs are university qualified professionals equipped with the advanced knowledge to design safe and effective exercise programs for people living with, or at risk of developing brain and brain related conditions.

Thorough evidence-based pre-screening and relevant fitness testing is conducted onsite at our state-of-the-art functional rehabilitation facility to gain an understanding of all the health conditions you are living with, how they impact your life and your current level of fitness.

Supervised or home-based exercise programs

It may be recommended to start with supervised sessions at our facility under the experienced eye of our AEP’s, Nathan Walker or Scott Howard, or your program can be designed to be performed from home. We utilise a free exercise software program called Physitrack, which can be downloaded to your smart phone or tablet, which gives you the ability to message your therapist directly with feedback about your exercises.

If you’re ready to get started, book an appointment with one of our Accredited Exercise Physiologists to discuss a safe and tailored approach to exercise that supports your health and wellbeing.