CANBERRA, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- As many as 250 Australians are developing dementia every day, a report has found.
The Dementia Australia report, released on Tuesday, indicated that more than 425,000 Australians were living with dementia.
Dementia refers to a group of degenerative brain diseases including Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia and Lewy body dementia.
Maree McCabe, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dementia Australia, said that dementia is the second leading cause of death among all Australians and number one among women.
"There is a perception in the community that nothing can be done following a diagnosis of dementia," McCabe said in a media release on Wednesday.
"However, with an estimated 425,000 Australians living with dementia this year alone, which is expected to soar to 536,000 people by 2025 and more than 1.1 million people by 2056, it is vital people understand the right support can make the world of difference to everyone impacted by dementia.
"Good support and services can help people cope better with the uncertainty and changes that come with dementia."
Isabelle Burke was 20 when her 54-year-old mother Christine was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease in 2014.
"Being so young when mum was diagnosed, I really knew very little about dementia and the impact it was going to have on our lives," Burke said.
"But through Dementia Australia we have been able to find out what information we needed at every step along the way, which has just made such a difference.
"The support services have allowed me to cope with massive changes in my and my family's life and to use what can be seen as a crushing diagnosis as a way of coming together to support each other as a family."
