<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>One of Australia's leading experts on brain health has urged the federal government to increase efforts on </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/dementia" rel="" target="" title="dementia"><span>dementia</span></a><span> research after a new study found that the disease could cost the nation over $7 billion a year by 2058.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Speaking at the National Press Club, Professor Henry Brodaty from the University of New South Wales made a call to action for the government to back prevention-focused dementia research.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This comes after new studies found the risk of dementia can be reduced with no additional cost to the health system. </span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/lemon-tree-stolen-caught-on-cctv-brisbane/9411222b-3f09-4b01-bbe9-5b8344fda825"><strong><span>Lemon tree stolen from woman's yard in bizarre 4am heist</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are at a turning point in the fight against Alzheimer's disease," Brodaty said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The science is clear: dementia is not inevitable, and we now have the tools to delay onset and slow progression."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>With over 400,000 Australians living with dementia, the disease currently costs the nation an estimated $3.7 billion in direct costs yearly, however that could rise to more than $7 billion by 2058 without action.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/the-growing-health-concern-that-could-cost-australia-billions/39c54e54-1b57-45fe-bfc5-343a3c753e77" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We don't have a magic doorway out of this crisis, but we do have prevention, through smart investment in proven programs," Brodaty said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/father-of-three-jailed-after-spraying-chilli-substance-in-bunnings-which-left-11-people-in-hospital/e1ee00ef-21e8-4e10-832e-caae4f5fc3ee" target="_blank"><strong><span>Horror Bunnings 'prank' leaves 11 people in hospital</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He added dementia isn't just a health concern, but also an economic issue linked to Australia's stalling productivity.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Over the last three decades, Australia's workforce age has doubled, with 19 per cent of workers aged 55 or over.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"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," Brodaty said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's time for a national movement for brain health, backed by research, scaled with urgency, and funded to save lives and money," he added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></em></strong><strong><span> </span></strong><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple App Store</span></em></strong></a><strong><span> </span></strong><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><strong><span> </span></strong><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>.</span></em></strong></div></div>