This article outlines why First Nations Australians suffer dementia at higher rates than the general population, and what we should be doing about it.
Rates of dementia in remote and rural Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are among the highest recorded globally - and by 2051, the number of First Nations peoples over 50 living with dementia is projected to be 4.5 to 5.5 times higher than today.
The trend illustrates the urgent need for change.
Research shows these rates are linked to long-term social and health inequities, including displacement from Country, intergenerational trauma, and higher rates of chronic illness such as diabetes and heart disease.
Access to culturally safe services also remains limited, leading to delays in diagnosis and care that often fail to reflect community values.