Invest in brain health to boost productivity, UNSW expert says

Australia must support prevention-focused dementia research as a national productivity strategy, says UNSW Sydney Scientia Professor Henry Brodaty.

Renowned clinician, researcher, policy advisor and co-director of UNSW’s Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), Scientia Professor Henry Brodaty, addressed the National Press Club of Australia today, calling for urgent investment in brain health.

More than 400,000 Australians are currently living with dementia and that number is expected to double by 2050, placing a $3.7 billion annual burden on the economy in direct health care costs.

In his address, Prof. Brodaty called on the federal government to invest more in dementia prevention research, not just as a health priority but as a strategy to boost national productivity.

“We are at a turning point in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. The science is clear: dementia is not inevitable, and we now have the tools to delay onset and slow progression,” Prof. Brodaty said.

“We don’t have a magic doorway out of this crisis, but we do have prevention, through smart investment in proven programs.

“It's time for a national movement for brain health, backed by research, scaled with urgency and funded to save lives and money.”

A call to action: brain health is a productivity issue

Dementia is not only a health crisis, but also an economic one. Australia’s workforce is ageing and the proportion of workers aged 55 and over has doubled over the past three decades to 19%. Maintaining that workforce’s cognitive health is vital to national productivity.

“With retirement ages rising and older adults participating more in the workforce, supporting cognitive health is a smart economic strategy,” Prof. Brodaty said.

Carers also make career sacrifices to look after loved ones with dementia, compounding productivity losses. Prevention is not just about adding years to life, but keeping Australians engaged, independent and contributing longer.

Prof. Brodaty also highlighted the delivery of the world’s largest digital dementia prevention trial led by CHeBA: Maintain Your Brain.

The study revealed that personalised, lifestyle-based intervention could improve cognitive and other health outcomes, all without adding extra burden to the healthcare system.

Prof. Brodaty called for immediate investment in a national dementia risk reduction program, built on the proven Maintain Your Brain model.

“People engaged in Maintain Your Brain use fewer healthcare resources which offsets the cost of delivering the program. In the long run, the program will deliver additional benefits on cognitive, physical, mental and social health that will more than pay back its costs.”

Evidence of impact without additional cost

New results from the Maintain Your Brain study published in the Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease quantified the program’s cost effectiveness.

The intervention was found to be cost-neutral over three years, delivering measurable cognitive and health benefits at no additional cost compared to standard care.

The trial was the largest online randomised controlled trial of its kind, involving more than 6100 Australians aged 55-77 with at least two modifiable risk factors for dementia. 

After three years, participants who received personalised online coaching in physical activity, nutrition, cognitive training and mental health showed significant improvements in cognitive performance compared to those who received general health information alone.

Crucially, Prof. Brodaty said the costs of the program were almost completely matched by the savings in health costs over three years, demonstrating that the program delivers results without straining health budgets.

“With Australia’s ageing population and growing dementia burden, investing in preventive programs could offer substantial health system savings while improving quality of life for older Australians.”

A field transformed: the rise of dementia research

The Maintain Your Brain trial builds on decades of scientific momentum and Australia has played a major role in that progress.

Next week, more than 8000 researchers and clinicians will gather at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Toronto to explore the latest global developments in dementia prevention, diagnosis and care.

Prof. Brodaty said the evidence base was growing stronger every year.

“This is a dramatic shift from just 50 years ago,” Prof. Brodaty said.

“Over four decades, we’ve moved from hopelessness to hope, from stigma to science. I’m proud to have been part of this transformation.”