Dementia
Dementia is an umbrella term that describes a collection of symptoms caused by progressive neurodegenerative disorders that affect the brain. Alzheimer’s disease (external site) is the most common form of dementia, but there are many other forms (external site), such as vascular dementia and Lewy body dementia.
Dementia can occur in people of any age but is more common in people over the age of 65. Dementia is not a normal part of ageing. Certain lifestyle factors have been identified that may reduce the risk of developing dementia. Early detection, diagnosis and effective care management can support living well with dementia.
Symptoms of dementia
Everyone’s experience of dementia is different, but it can affect your memory, thinking, mood, and behaviour. Symptoms of dementia may not be obvious at first.
You might experience:
- forgetting things or recent events more often
- changes in your planning and problem-solving skills
- difficulty performing everyday tasks
- shifts in mood and personality
- loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
- poor judgement
- problems with speaking (external site) and writing
- confusion about time and place
- problems navigating or wandering, which may result in you getting lost
- later stage behavioural or psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).
If you are concerned that you may be experiencing symptoms of dementia, speak to your doctor. More information about this stage, can be found at:
Learn more about diagnosing dementia.
Understanding and managing cognitive decline
Mild cognitive changes are an expected part of healthy aging. This can appear as gradual changes in memory, attention, mood and processing speed. It can be helpful to speak to your doctor about assessing your cognition if you have concerns. You may also want to track your brain health informally. You can do this is with a mobile app such as BrainTrack (BrainTrack App | healthdirect).
If you or someone you care for may be experiencing cognitive changes that are not be typical, it is important to visit your doctor early.
You may also want to discuss how to reduce your risk of dementia with your doctor.
Reducing your risk of dementia
The latest research shows that globally, 45 per cent of dementia cases may be prevented. Your risk of dementia can be reduced by changes to your lifestyle.
Dementia risk factors
Risk factors that affect your risk of dementia include:
- high blood pressure (hypertension)
- smoking
- being overweight or obese
- depression
- physical inactivity
- diabetes
- excessive alcohol consumption
- social isolation
- traumatic brain injury
- unmanaged hearing loss
- ·vision loss
- high LDL cholesterol
- education level
- air pollution.
Speaking to your doctor and making positive lifestyle changes to these can reduce your risk.
Taking steps to address these risk factors can be helpful at any stage of your life.
Support organisations
Information and programs to support lifestyle changes to help reduce your risk of dementia are available in Western Australia. Some resources that may be helpful to support this include:
Planning ahead
It’s wise to plan ahead. For example, you may need to plan for changes in your finances, ability to drive, health and decision-making ability. It’s important to do this early when you can make your own choices. You may also want to create a dementia friendly environment by adapting your home to reduce the risk of falls and support independent living. To learn more about planning ahead, you can visit:
Last reviewed: 15-07-2026
This publication is provided for education and information purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your healthcare professional. Readers should note that over time currency and completeness of the information may change. All users should seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional for a diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.