Concerned about memory? Understanding dementia and finding support

PHA-013 · Public Health Australia
By Zee Jung · Evidence checked 6 October 2026

You lose track of a familiar task, forget an appointment, or notice that a relative is struggling with decisions they once made easily. The difficult question is often what to do next. Fear can make a conversation harder; an alarming headline can make every small lapse feel like a diagnosis.

The September awareness week has passed, but the need for understanding has not. This article moves beyond the campaign calendar to explain the evidence, the assessment process and the support that remains available.

Sudden confusion needs urgent help.

A sudden change in thinking or behaviour is different from a gradual memory concern. It may reflect an acute confused state (delirium) or another serious illness. If someone is suddenly confused, call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance. Do not wait for a routine memory appointment. [6]

A national headline is not a personal prediction

AIHW reports dementia as Australia’s leading cause of death in 2024, with about 18,300 deaths, or 9.8% of deaths that year, under its dementia classification. It also explains that its coding includes some types of dementia beyond the ABS grouping, so totals are not identical. These are deaths recorded for a year, not the number of people currently living with dementia. They cannot predict an individual’s remaining life. [1]

That distinction is more than statistical housekeeping. A national ranking helps governments plan services. A person needs an assessment of their own situation. Treating the ranking as a prognosis turns population information into unnecessary fear.

What “dementia” means

Dementia is a name for a group of conditions affecting thinking, memory and other abilities (cognitive function), with effects on everyday life. Alzheimer’s disease is one type. People’s symptoms, circumstances and support needs vary. A memory complaint alone does not identify the cause. [2]

The first useful step is to describe a pattern rather than attaching a label. What has changed? When did it start? Does it come and go? Which activities have become harder? These observations give the clinician something more useful than “I am becoming forgetful”.

Preparing for an assessment

Dementia Australia recommends starting with a doctor and bringing a record of noticed changes, a medicine list and, if wanted, someone who can provide support. A doctor can discuss the pattern and decide whether further tests or specialist assessment are needed. Specialists may include a doctor focusing on brain disorders (neurologist), older people’s health (geriatrician), or mental health (psychiatrist). [3]

There is no single test that settles every dementia diagnosis. A clinician may combine the history, thinking tests, a physical examination, blood or urine tests and brain scans. Some similar changes can have other causes, including infection, vitamin deficiency or medicine effects; these need assessment. Ask what each proposed test is for, what it costs and who will explain the result. A request for repeat testing can mean the doctor needs to observe change over time, rather than that your concern has been dismissed. [3]

Bring	Why it helps the conversation
Examples with approximate dates	Shows the pattern and effect on everyday activities.
Current medicines and recent changes	Give the clinician a fuller picture to assess.
Your questions and preferences	Keep the discussion centred on what you want to understand.
A trusted person, if you choose	Provides support and another account of changes.

A checklist or app can help organise observations, but it should not be confused with a clinical diagnosis. Dementia Australia explicitly describes its memory, mood and thinking checklist as a guide to next steps, rather than a diagnostic test. [4]

For multilingual readers, it is reasonable to ask how language and communication needs will be handled during assessment. Difficulty understanding a question is not the same thing as difficulty remembering its answer. Services should make their process understandable and explain what each result can and cannot establish.

Dementia Australia’s free "BrainTrack" app can record changes in thinking over time and create a report to discuss with a GP. It supports a conversation; it does not replace formal assessment or diagnose dementia. [7]

What research says about supportive activities

A 2023 Cochrane systematic review included 37 trials and 2,766 people with mild-to-moderate dementia. It found small, short-term benefits in thinking and memory from structured cognitive stimulation, with some benefits in communication and other outcomes. Results varied; there was less evidence for individual delivery and long-term effects. The research was current to March 2022. [2]

Cognitive stimulation means activities designed to engage thinking, often with a social element. The finding is not proof that any puzzle app prevents dementia, reverses it or suits everyone. The trial participants already had dementia, so this treatment evidence should not be repackaged as prevention evidence for the entire population.

Ask a treating professional about suitable activities and support. A programme’s accessibility, enjoyment and fit with the person’s interests matter when considering participation. A person is more than a test score, and support should recognise relationships, preferences and daily routines.

From awareness to practical inclusion

Our public-health interpretation is that awareness becomes useful when it leads to an accessible pathway. A poster cannot arrange an appointment. A service list cannot resolve every cost, travel or communication barrier. A family may need help understanding which service addresses which need and how to make the first contact.

Constructive questions include whether information is available in relevant languages, whether carers are supported, whether the person is involved in decisions and whether follow-up happens after referral. These are questions for improving services, not claims that every community faces the same obstacles.

There is also a language choice. Describe the person and their needs without reducing them to a diagnosis. Include the person in the conversation wherever possible. Concern and respect can sit together; neither requires pretending that changes do not matter.

Support does not end with awareness week

The National Dementia Helpline, 1800 100 500, provides free, confidential information and support around the clock for people in Australia, including those concerned about memory and those providing care. Dementia Australia also explains interpreter and relay-service options. The helpline information was updated in July 2026 and checked for this article. [5]

A practical starting point is to write down two or three specific changes, arrange a medical appointment and ask what the next step will be. You do not need to arrive certain of the diagnosis. You need a conversation that turns uncertainty into an informed plan.

Watch the PHA explanation

This article adds detail to our earlier video. Watch the matching PHA Short and explore the Public Health Australia channel.

Sources and evidence

Official sources describe Australian data, guidance and services. Research findings are attributed to peer-reviewed reviews; publication dates and evidence limits matter. This article reflects sources checked on 6 October 2026, rather than claiming knowledge of future changes.

Editorial note

Editor-in-Chief: Zee Jung (MPH Candidate, Sydney Hill Campus, University of Canberra), Public Health Australia. This article was prepared with AI-assisted drafting and evidence checking. It provides general public-health information; a healthcare professional can advise on your circumstances. Corrections can be raised through the blog comments without sharing private information. Please identify the passage and, where possible, link to an authoritative source.

Search This Blog

Zee Jung | Public Health Explained