A blueprint for how Australia can tackle a looming dementia crisis is the goal of a unique three-way collaboration announced in Sydney today.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) – signed by Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), Roche Diagnostics Australia and Lilly Australia – aims to drive healthcare system readiness and effectively translate research into best-practice to improve detection, diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease in Australia.

Dementia is the leading cause of death in this country, and close to 450,000 Australians are currently thought to be living with dementia – roughly two-thirds having been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Overall numbers are expected to reach one million by 2065. ^{1, 2}

This collaboration aims to put the National Dementia Action Plan into practice. It will pilot a new care model that integrates blood-based biomarkers (BBMs), imaging, and treatments into streamlined referral pathways, using standard, clinically registered diagnostics and therapies.

Specifically, the MOU aims to:

• develop consensus-based clinical guidance for the use of blood-based biomarkers and emerging treatments for Alzheimer’s disease in the Australian context
• educate and equip Australia’s multidisciplinary healthcare workforce to build capability to provide high-quality Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis and management
• drive advocacy towards accelerated national readiness for early Alzheimer’s diagnosis and equitable access to novel treatments

The collaboration will initially focus on New South Wales — leveraging the tertiary and medical networks in the Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct, including NeuRA’s constituent partners within the precinct, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District and the University of New South Wales — while enabling national change.

“We believe that the model of care this collaboration will create should be the leading example for how Australia supports and looks after people who are or might be living with Alzheimer’s disease,” said Professor Matthew Kiernan AM, CEO of NeuRA.

“We know that early diagnosis is essential to the most effective disease management. Crucially this provides patients with an accelerated referral pathway from a personalised diagnosis to timely access to appropriate treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.

“The ultimate aim is to refine a model of care that can be replicated across Australia, including the education of an entire healthcare workforce that will be required to deliver such care at scale.”

This MOU will utilise Roche Diagnostics’ cutting-edge diagnostic technology and Lilly’s emerging treatments to create a model of care that can define a unique approach to Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis and management. The pilot will ensure consumer needs and patient experience remain at the forefront of program design, and that post-treatment care plans are established for all patients.

“For too long, receiving an Alzheimer’s diagnosis in Australia has meant years of uncertainty, multiple referrals and limited access to specialised testing. Blood-based biomarkers have the potential to change that by helping identify Alzheimer’s disease earlier. Real change comes from integrating innovation into the healthcare system, and that is what makes this collaboration so important. Together, we have an opportunity to create a model of care that could become a blueprint for Australia,” said Anand Vairavan, Managing Director for Roche Diagnostics Australia.

“We know that no single organisation can transform healthcare alone. Our future depends on deep, authentic partnerships across sectors,” said Prajni Sadananda, Business Unit Director for Neuroscience, Lilly Australia. ​“This collaboration reflects our commitment to the Alzheimer’s community – bringing the right partners together and always looking for new and innovative ways to improve outcomes for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and their families.”

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About the National Dementia Action Plan

The National Dementia Action Plan 2024 – 2034, released by the Department of Health and Aged Care on 5 December 2024, posits eight high-level actions to increase dementia awareness, reduce population risk and improve service coordination for those affected. These include Action 4 (improve dementia diagnosis and post-diagnostic care and support); Action 5 (improve treatment, coordination and support); and Action 7 (build capability of the workforce to care for and support people living with dementia). ³