Working to save for retirement, working to pay for the holidays he planned to take with his wife, Jan.

But on Monday, Mr Hazell entered retirement much sooner than planned, completing his last day as the business development manager for an optical laboratory.

"I had a meeting with the business ... and also with my doctor, and we all thought it best I retire. I was just finding it too difficult."

Two years ago Mr Hazell was diagnosed with early onset dementia.

He is one of more than 400,000 Australians with dementia today, and one of more than 25,000 in the younger onset category - those aged under 65.

"I'm very scared, because I'm just not sure of the future ... why is it me?" he said from his home in Northmead.

Mr Hazell is now supported by his wife and his assistance labrador Sara, which he describes as his "saviour".

"I know nothing is going to help me, but for future Australians we need to fund research to find a cause and successful treatment."

A report commissioned by Alzheimer's Australia estimates the number of people with dementia will cost the nation more than $14 billion this year, with 244 new cases presenting every day.

The report, by the University of Canberra's National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM), revealed costs will more than double to $36 billion in less than 40 years, if nothing is done.

This could see a staggering 1.1 million people affected by 2056.

And while about one third of dementia-affected Australians receive care, like Mr Hazell, nearly one in 10 have no assistance at all.

"Dementia is a national health crisis," said Professor Laurie Brown, report author and convenor of NATSEM at the University of Canberra.

"If nothing changes, we estimate, by 2056, Australia will need over 250,000 paid workers in residential aged care and over 525,000 carers in the community."

The NATSEM report, The Economic Cost of Dementia in Australia 2016-2056, estimates there are currently around 138,700 people with dementia in NSW today.

Breaking down prevalence estimates into NSW state electorates, it found the highest rates in Myall Lakes, followed by Tweed, Port Macquarie, Bega, Oxley, Clarence, South Coast, Murray Goulburn and The Entrance.

"Different prevalence rates reflect the demographic of different areas and their risk factor profiles," said Professor Brown.

"For example if you are overweight in mid-life you increase your risk of getting dementia in late life by about 30 per cent. If you are obese, you double your risk."

Alzheimer's Australia NSW chief executive John Watkins described the figures as "mind-boggling".

"This report points us to where we need to be investing in new services," he said,

"Treasuries are aware of the ageing burden but I don't think they have yet understood seriously how dementia alone is going to be such a driving cause."

To estimate the $14 billion cost of dementia this year, NATSEM took a "cost of illness" approach; looking at direct costs (health and aged care, transport, household expenses), and indirect costs (the value of lost income).

But Professor Brown said such costs could be significantly reduced, revealing that a five per cent reduction in the number of people aged over 65 with dementia could lead to savings of $120.4 billion by 2056.

"Simply introducing lifestyle programs to reduce peoples likelihood of getting dementia ... would lead to major savings."

Mr Watkins said Alzheimer's Australia continued its call for a fully funded national dementia strategy, to look at the disease "from diagnosis to death".

A spokeswoman for the federal Department of Health said the government had budgeted $11 billion for residential aged care in 2016-17, where more than 50 per cent of residents have dementia.

"Additionally, a range of dementia-specific consumer and sector support programs are funded in excess of $50 million annually. A further $200 million over four years has been committed to dementia research."

She pointed to the National Framework for Action on Dementia 2015-2019, a current agreement between the Commonwealth and state and territory governments, which "encompass[es] the items Alzheimer's Australia has identified for a national strategy."