When recipient of the 2026 Senior Australian of the Year award Henry Brodaty's father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease at just 52, dementia was poorly understood and often ignored.
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This experience would go on to inform a lifetime of work that has not only revolutionised this field of psychiatry, but has transformed the diagnosis, care and prevention of dementia.
The 2026 Senior Australian of the Year has spent his career improving countless lives, both in Australia and around the world.
Accepting the award on Sunday night, he said there was hope for those suffering from dementia, and those who may in future.
"Look, we can't deny it - dementia is a national health priority," he said.
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"It's our challenge, all of us - over 430,000 Australians and over a million family carers are touched by dementia."
In 2012, Professor Brodaty co-founded the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, and led internationally significant research that enhanced the world's understanding of risk and prevention.
His large Maintain Your Brain trial demonstrated that straightforward interventions can profoundly delay onset and even prevent dementia. It's a far cry from his own father's experience, when people with dementia and carers had little support.
"We have a vision the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing at UNSW, and our vision is to live our life with good cognitive health our full lifespan," he said on Sunday.
"So is that possible? Can we really prevent dementia, at least delay its onset? Well, yes - almost half the cost of dementia is caused by preventable factors that we can modify in our lifestyle."
In 1982, he played a pivotal role in establishing Dementia Australia in NSW.
"I want to say that people think more about their hair than what's underneath. We should treasure our brains just as we have our hearts," he said.
At 78, Professor Brodaty is a leader who has reshaped dementia care from every angle as he navigates toward a future where dementia is better treated and prevented.
