Dementia care pioneer named NSW Senior Australian of the Year

UNSW Sydney Scientia Professor and Co-Director of the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, Henry Brodaty AO, was honoured for his contributions to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the disease.

Scientia Professor Henry Brodaty has dedicated his career to advocating for people with dementia, a condition which affects more than 400,000 Australians today.

His own father’s struggle with dementia, which is now recognised as the leading cause of disease burden for older people, shaped his lifelong work as a researcher, clinician and champion for the health of older people.

Guided by his father’s legacy, Prof. Brodaty’s lifelong dedication to mental health advocacy for older Australians has earned him the 2026 Senior Australian of the Year for NSW.

“I’m extremely honoured by this recognition,” said Prof. Brodaty. “This award is a tribute to my father, who lived with young-onset dementia, my mother, who was his devoted carer, and to all those living with dementia and their families.”

UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Attila Brungs, congratulated Prof. Brodaty on his achievement, praising his leadership and impact.

“Prof. Brodaty is a visionary leader whose compassion and scientific excellence have transformed dementia research and care – one of the greatest health challenges of our time,” Prof. Brungs said. “His work gives hope and support to countless families affected by the disease, turning evidence into action and advocacy.

“We are incredibly proud to see a true pioneer and role model who has worked tirelessly to enable healthy lives for all honoured by this prestigious award.”

Prof. Brodaty will now represent New South Wales as a finalist for Senior Australian of the Year, with the winner to be announced at the national ceremony in Canberra in January 2026.

Transforming dementia care

Prof. Brodaty played a key role in the movement to recognise Alzheimer’s, a specific progressive brain disease and the most common cause of dementia. He co-founded and served as President of the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Society (ADARDS) NSW in 1982 and ADARDS Australia in 1984 – the precursor to today’s Dementia Australia, the national peak organisation for people affected by dementia and their carers.

In 1984, he was central to the establishment of Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI). He later served as Chairman of ADI, which now includes 120 countries in its global advocacy and collaborates closely with the World Health Organization.

In 1985, Prof. Brodaty established one of Australia’s first memory clinics, providing dementia assessments at a time when older people were often dismissed with vague diagnoses and little support. His model, built on compassion, excellence and teamwork, became the national benchmark.

To improve early diagnosis, he developed the General Practitioner Assessment of Cognition (GPCOG), a quick and reliable screening tool now used globally. He also led national GP education, reaching more than 5000 doctors and embedding dementia care in primary practice.

Recognising the effects of dementia on family carers, Prof. Brodaty developed a carer’s training program that reduced carer stress, delayed nursing home admission and was cost-effective. This was emulated internationally and led to the current Australian government-funded Going to Stay At Home program, which combines respite care with carer education and is estimated to save millions of dollars annually.

Prof. Brodaty has long been a trusted voice for governments, health systems and communities. His leadership has influenced major national initiatives, including the NSW Framework for Dementia Care and the National Dementia Action Plan, as well as reforms that enhance aged care safety, deprescribing and post-diagnosis care.

He became an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2000 and received the Ryman Prize in 2016 – the equivalent of a Nobel Prize for advancing the quality of life of older people. 

“For more than four decades, we’ve moved from hopelessness to hope – from stigma to science – in the way we understand and respond to dementia,” Prof. Brodaty said. “I’m proud to have played a part in this transformation, alongside so many dedicated colleagues, carers and people living with dementia who continue to inspire and drive our progress.”

Leading dementia research and prevention

As Co-Director of the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), which he co-founded alongside Scientia Professor Perminder Sachdev at UNSW, Prof. Brodaty leads globally significant research showing that dementia is not inevitable.

Prof. Brodaty was the lead researcher on the Maintain Your Brain study, which demonstrated that an internet-delivered lifestyle intervention improved cognition in older adults.

The clinical trial, which was the world’s largest online dementia risk-reduction study, tested whether effectively addressing modifiable risk factors for dementia improved cognition in older adults over the three-year trial period.

After three years, participants who received personalised online coaching in physical activity, nutrition, cognitive training and mental health showed significant improvements in cognitive performance compared to those who received general health information alone. Crucially, the program’s costs were nearly fully offset by savings in health care costs over three years.

Dean of UNSW Medicine & Health, Professor Cheryl Jones, said Prof. Brodaty’s dedication to advancing dementia care and research was inspiring.

“Prof. Brodaty’s passion for improving dementia diagnosis, prevention and treatment has made a lasting impact in Australia and around the world,” Prof. Jones said. “A visionary leader and true champion for healthy ageing, his research and compassion continue to improve dementia outcomes and drive real-world change.

“We’re proud to see his extraordinary contribution recognised with this honour.”

Despite all the accolades, Prof. Brodaty remains grounded, seeing patients as a senior psychogeriatrician at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney, mentoring young clinicians and actively engaging across NSW to enhance community understanding of dementia.