Dementia is a condition of growing concern in New Zealand. With baby boomers approaching a certain age and people living longer generally, we are going to see a significant increase in the number of dementia cases in this country.
There are an estimated 20,000 people affected by dementia in the greater Auckland area, these levels are anticipated to triple by 2050 and cost the New Zealand economy $4.5 billion dollars overall. A recent survey conducted by Dementia New Zealand found that 91% of New Zealanders are frightened of the condition.
Dementia is now one of the leading causes of death amongst older adults in New Zealand. It has never been more important for us to understand, and tackle, the largest health and social challenge of our time.