New Platform Utilises 20 Years of Data
Dementia Australia and the Sax Institute have announced a new research partnership, aiming to develop a Dementia Research Platform that utilises data from the 45 and Up Study. The announcement was made on 11th June.
This collaboration provides researchers with access to a comprehensive dataset, encompassing 20 years of information from the Southern Hemisphere's largest longitudinal study of ageing. The data includes links to Medicare, Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, and hospital records. These datasets are integrated into the Secure Unified Research Environment (SURE), ensuring participants' privacy and data security during analysis.
The Sax Institute's 45 and Up Study involves over 250,000 participants and offers a unique resource for understanding dementia. It includes data available from a wide range of sources, making it an invaluable tool for comprehensive research.
Professor Tanya Buchanan, CEO of Dementia Australia, stated that the platform will enable researchers to explore dementia risk factors and service usage across individuals' lifetimes. "The Dementia Research Platform will allow researchers to explore questions such as how dementia outcomes differ across populations or identifying patterns of healthcare and aged care use before and after a dementia diagnosis," she said.
Unique Resource for Dementia Research
Dr Martin McNamara, CEO of the Sax Institute, highlighted the significance of this resource: "It offers researchers funded through the Dementia Australia Research Foundation an unprecedented opportunity to generate robust evidence on dementia risk factors and outcomes." The platform is designed to directly inform policy, support advocacy efforts, and improve care for people affected by dementia.
With an estimated 446,500 Australians living with dementia, this figure is expected to exceed one million by 2065 if no significant interventions occur. As a result, having access to comprehensive datasets is more crucial than ever.
Applications for the Dementia Australia Research Foundation's 2026 grant round have opened, allowing researchers to incorporate the 45 and Up dataset into their proposals. For more information or to apply, interested parties can visit the Dementia Australia Research Foundation website.
Last updated: 11 June 2026, 6:15 pm
