Action needed as Australia's dementia deaths surge

Dementia is the leading cause of death in women in Australia. (Alan Porritt/AAP PHOTOS)

Significant intervention is needed to tackle dementia, which is close to becoming Australia's leading cause of death, advocates say.

There are currently an estimated 421,000 Australians living with dementia and this number is expected to increase to more than 812,500 by 2054.