A new report demonstrates how clinicians around Australia are accessing best practice data to develop and refine their care for Australians living with dementia.
Releasing its 2024 Annual Report today, the Australian Dementia Network (ADNeT) Registry shared its latest achievements in a public webinar to an audience of clinicians, researchers, policy makers, and people living with dementia and their families. The ADNeT Registry is a crucial data asset for monitoring the quality of diagnosis and care for people with mild cognitive impairment and dementia in Australia, thereby driving improvements in patient outcomes. Funded under the auspices of the wider ADNeT program, the registry is administered by Monash University’s School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine and leverages the School’s significant leadership and expertise in registry science.
In the past 12 months the Registry has expanded to support the introduction to Australia of the first disease-modifying therapies shown to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, with donanemab approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration in May 2025.
The ADNeT Registry captures data from a diverse group of Australians newly diagnosed with dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), including those from regional and remote settings, and culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
The ADNeT Registry is a crucial data asset for monitoring the quality of diagnosis and care for people with mild cognitive impairment and dementia in Australia, thereby driving improvements in patient outcomes. Funded under the auspices of the wider ADNeT program, the registry is administered by Monash University’s School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, and leverages the School’s significant leadership and expertise in registry science. The Registry provides data-driven insights that inform clinical practice, shape policy, and support research to improve access to high-quality care.
Key findings in the 2024 report include:
- 2,619 new participants recruited, bringing the total to 6,898 participants recruited across 74 contributing sites across all states in Australia
- Delivery of 130 benchmark reports to clinical sites to drive continuous improvement
- Awarding of a prestigious grant from Alzheimer’s Association (US) for the establishment of a Real-World Data Platform to support post-market surveillance of new disease-modifying therapies and facilitate international collaborations
In the past 12 months, the ADNeT Registry incorporated new data elements on potentially modifiable risk factors for dementia, such as smoking and hearing impairment.
In his addressing the audience, ADNeT Director, Professor Christopher Rowe, expressed pride in the registry’s achievements, particularly the key role it is playing in the delivery of new disease-modifying therapies
“There is hope in the dementia research community, knowing we have new tools to diagnose and treat dementia. The insights generated by the registry are critical to turn innovation into best practice for clinicians, creating real-world benefits for patients and their families,” said Professor Rowe.
“The expansion of the Registry’s scope to include new data risk factors means we can now help clinicians bring the latest insights in brain health to patients”, Professor Rowe added.
ADNeT Registry’s Clinical Lead and Steering Committee Co-Chair Dr Stephanie Ward reiterated the impact of the registry, saying, “Many Australian families will be touched by dementia at some stage in their lives. The ADNeT Registry provides clinicians with vital data on their clinical practices to ensure the latest in diagnosis, treatment, care, and prevention can be brought to patients. The future challenge of dementia is huge, but the Registry can ensure we bring the latest innovation to practices around Australia.”
“The ADNeT Registry continues to evolve as the treatment, diagnosis, prevention, and care evolve. It will continue its vital role to drive healthcare policy, inform health care providers , and ensure the best outcomes for Australians living with dementia and their families”.
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Dr Stephanie Ward, ADNeT Registry Clinical Lead and Steering Committee Co-Chair is available for interviews.
The Full version of the 2024 ADNeT Registry Annual Report can be found here
About:
The Australian Dementia Network (ADNeT) is a national initiative of 21 clinical and academic institutions committed to improving the lives of people living with dementia and MCI. The ADNeT Registry, managed by Monash University, and supported by the University of Melbourne and the University of New South Wales Centre for Health Brain Ageing (CHeBA). It collects and analyses critical data to inform clinical practice, support research, and shape policy, ensuring that all Australians living with dementia and MCI have access to high-quality care. The ADNeT Registry is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing under the National Clinical Quality Registry Program. For more information on the ADNeT Registry, visit www.australiandementianetwork.org.au/initiatives/clinical-quality-registry/