23 creative stories to elevate one from the cloud of dementia

The arts can lead in extending a quality of life for people living with dementia.
drawing of brain being erased

It is Dementia Action Week (18-24 September). The most recent statistics show that more than 420,000 Australians are living with dementia, and it is now the leading cause of death for women. Without a medical breakthrough, that number is expected to double by 2058.

What is perhaps less discussed is the other snapshot. And that is, that nearly 29,000 younger people are living with early onset dementia – people in their 30s, 40s and 50s. This number is also is expected to double. This is not just a story for the aged.

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Gina Fairley is ArtsHub's National Visual Arts Editor. For a decade she worked as a freelance writer and curator across Southeast Asia and was previously the Regional Contributing Editor for Hong Kong based magazines Asian Art News and World Sculpture News. Prior to writing she worked as an arts manager in America and Australia for 14 years, including the regional gallery, biennale and commercial sectors. She is based in Mittagong, regional NSW. Twitter: @ginafairley Instagram: fairleygina