Transforming dementia care, together
The HMRI Dementia Exchange brings the latest research, tools and care closer to home.
The HMRI Dementia Exchange is turning complex research into simple tools and care solutions people can use, delivering tangible results within months, not decades.
Dementia is Australia’s number one cause of death and it hits the Hunter New England region 22% harder than the national average.
With over 25,000 residents already living with dementia, two-thirds of them women, and an 80% increase projected by 2054, our community desperately needs solutions.
Right now families in our Hunter New England community are watching loved ones struggle with the effects of dementia while breakthrough treatments and care options remain out of reach. World-leading discoveries are being made here and around the world, yet they can take a long time to reach our local families who need these options now.
The HMRI Dementia Exchange is a solution that will bring these options to our communities faster than ever before.
- Faster impact – bringing the community tools and programs in months, not decades.
- More support for our community, families and health professionals.
- Researchers, health professionals and community working together for better outcomes.
Our four focus areas:
Awareness
Building a community that understands dementia and knows what to do.
- Community campaigns to increase understanding
- Easy-to-use resources for GPs, pharmacies and families
- Simple symptom checklists and a one-stop website for trusted information
Screening
Making it easier to identify risk and concerns earlier.
- Digital tools for early checks, including cognition and hearing
- Training and support for local health professionals
- Community-based dementia screening in pharmacies across our region
Intervention
Bringing treatment and prevention opportunities closer to home.
- Access to national and international clinical trials locally
- Prevention and early intervention programs
- Local trial infrastructure and better pathways from research to real-world treatment
Care
Improving how people live with dementia every day.
- Virtual check-ins and monitoring for carers and families
- New models of care and supports for people living with dementia
- Women-focused research to reduce risk and improve support.
HMRI Dementia Exchange Projects and Initiatives
At HMRI, we’re committed to taking healthy further for our communities. By combining the best minds with world-class facilities and research acceleration services, we aim to solve the world’s greatest health challenges faster.
Dementia is frequently identified too late, often after a person has experienced a noticeable decline in cognition, function and quality of life. The current pathway relies on fragmented observations and inconsistent assessments across multiple healthcare interactions, resulting in missed opportunities for early detection.
By the time a diagnosis is made, individuals and their families may have already lost valuable time to access support services, plan for the future, participate in interventions, or enrol in relevant research and clinical trials.
Some of the initiatives being developed as part of the HMRI Dementia Exchange are:
Dementia Early Screening Tool
Researchers, pharmacists, GPs, specialists and community are working together to co-design an early detection screening tool for dementia that can be accessed by the community at their local pharmacy.
Pharmacy Screening Pilot
Pharmacies can help lead the way in early detection. Register your interest to join our pilot study.
The impact of dementia
Dementia affects far more than memory. For patients, it can impact independence, daily functioning, relationships and overall quality of life. Families and carers often face increasing emotional, physical and financial pressures as they provide ongoing support and navigate complex care needs. For healthcare professionals, dementia presents challenges in recognising early signs, coordinating care across multiple settings and ensuring patients receive timely assessment and intervention. Earlier identification has the potential to improve outcomes for everyone involved, enabling better planning, support and access to appropriate care.
What is Dementia?
Dementia refers to a group of neurodegenerative disorders affecting the brain. It’s not a normal part of ageing and it’s not one single disease, instead, it describes changes that affect a person’s memory, thinking, behaviour, and ability to carry out everyday activities.
There are many types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and Lewy body dementia. Symptoms can vary, but common changes include:
- Memory loss – especially recent events or names
- Confusion about time, place, or people
- Difficulty with thinking, planning, or problem-solving
- Changes in mood or behaviour, such as anxiety, depression, or withdrawal
- Challenges with everyday tasks – like cooking, paying bills, or travelling
Dementia can happen to anyone, but it is more common after the age of 65. While most cases are not inherited, having a close relative with dementia can increase risk for some types.
Help us transform dementia care
If you are interested in learning how you can invest in the future of dementia healthcare in our region, you can contact our Dementia Exchange team to start the conversation.
Partner with our experts
Partner with our Data Sciences team to enhance your research.
