Medical research in Australia is at a crossroads. Over the next 30-40 years we face one of the most profound demographic changes in our history, an accelerated greying of the population. Prevention and better management of age-related disease will become the great medical challenge of our times.
Because of the close link between advanced age and dementia risk, dementia forecasts are particularly alarming. Dementia will become the nation’s most prolific killer and single most costly disorder. Numbers of affected individuals will rise from approximately 254,000 to 1.1 million by 2050. Continuation of the status quo would place an unbearable strain on not only the health budget, but the nation’s financial position.
In AProf Valenzuela’s submission, he argues for the creation of new institution dedicated to funding age-related preventative health research: the National Healthy Ageing Research Council. Funding for such a body should be commensurate to the magnitude of the challenge ahead. International events suggest that timing may be particularly ripe for such a quantum leap in medical research funding, positioning Australia ahead of comparable nations. However, this is only justifiable where such research can be directly linked to material improvements in Australians’ health.
Learn more about the McKeon review and how you can get involved at upcoming public discussions around Australia.