When Professor Henry Brodaty AO was named the 2026 Senior Australian of the Year, it recognised decades of work in dementia research, prevention and care. His career has been shaped by personal experience and a long-standing focus on improving outcomes for people living with dementia and the families who support them — an issue that is becoming increasingly relevant as Australia’s population ages.
Professor Brodaty’s commitment to dementia prevention and care began in 1972, when his father died with Alzheimer’s disease at just 59. At the time, dementia was poorly understood. Families were left to cope with little information, minimal support, and few services.
Rather than accepting that reality, Professor Brodaty chose to change it.
Professor Henry Brodaty AO, 2026 Senior Australian of the Year.
Source: ABC News
Turning personal loss into lasting change
Over the decades, Professor Brodaty has helped transform how dementia is understood, diagnosed and managed — not just in Australia, but internationally. His work has focused on two critical areas: early prevention, and better support for people living with dementia and their carers.
As co-founder of UNSW’s Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, he has led and supported large-scale research showing that dementia risk is not inevitable. Importantly, this work demonstrates that relatively simple, targeted interventions — introduced early enough — can delay onset and, in some cases, help prevent dementia altogether.
This shift from “nothing can be done” to “there is a lot we can do” has been one of the most important changes in dementia care over the past 50 years.
What we’re learning about ageing and risk
Dementia is now one of Australia’s leading causes of death, and the number of people affected is expected to grow significantly as the population ages. While age remains the biggest risk factor, research consistently shows that lifestyle and social factors also play a role.
One of the strongest — and often overlooked — protective factors is social connection.
Studies show that people who engage regularly in social activities can reduce their risk of dementia by up to 38 per cent. In contrast, loneliness and social isolation increase dementia risk by 31 to 60 per cent — a level comparable to well-known risks such as smoking or physical inactivity.
Social interaction stimulates brain networks, reduces chronic stress and inflammation, and supports neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to adapt and stay resilient over time. Living alone later in life further increases risk, with research suggesting that close to 9 per cent of dementia cases in people aged 65 and over may be linked to social isolation.
Why where you live really matters
This is where housing and lifestyle decisions intersect with long-term brain health.
Downsizing is often discussed in financial or practical terms — reducing maintenance, unlocking equity, or simplifying life. But there is another, equally important dimension: connection.
For many people, downsizing to a retirement community can improve day-to-day social contact. Shared spaces, organised activities, and the simple ease of seeing familiar faces can help reduce loneliness and isolation — two of the strongest modifiable dementia risk factors.
This doesn’t mean retirement communities are right for everyone. But it does mean that how connected you are is worth considering alongside financial and lifestyle factors when planning the next stage of life.
A message for all of us
In his acceptance speech, Professor Brodaty dedicated his award to older Australians, carers and to families affected by dementia, calling for a whole-of-life approach to brain health — similar to Australia’s past public health campaigns that changed everyday behaviour for the better.
His message is both realistic and hopeful: while we can’t control everything about ageing, there are still meaningful steps we can take — often earlier than we realise — to support brain health and quality of life.
Where and how we live plays a role in how connected and independent we remain as we get older, often more than we expect.
🎥 Watch Professor Brodaty’s acceptance speech:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-25/2026-senior-australian-of-the-year-henry-brodaty-ao/106268026
Source: ABC News
