The Many Faces of Alzheimer’s

The number of people being diagnosed with some form of dementia is increasing each year, with Alzheimer’s disease accounting for around 70% of cases.  By 2050, it’s estimated that 153 million people will be living with the disease. Diagnosis is complex as two people with the same disease, for example Alzheimer’s, can present with differing symptoms. 
In the MEMORY SERVICE at TALLAGHT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, a multidisciplinary team works closely together to provide accurate and timely diagnosis, and then to support people after diagnosis to maintain the best quality of life possible.  In this series, we will hear from clinicians and patients about what to expect if you are referred to the Memory Service, the process of assessment and diagnosis, and the supports available after diagnosis.   
In this FIRST EPISODE, we hear from PROFESSOR SEÁN KENNELLY about how the INSTITUTE OF MEMORY & COGNITION came into being, his team’s novel and inclusive approach to assessing and supporting people with dementia, and their families, and why there are reasons to be optimistic, even if you are diagnosed with a form of dementia.
CONTRIBUTORS | Fionnuala Sweeney (Presenter) & Professor Seán Kennelly (Institute of Memory & Cognition, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin).
MUSIC | composed and performed by Jon Henderson (guitar).
PRODUCTION | ChromeRadio (www.chromemedia.co.uk) for the INSTITUTE OF MEMORY & COGNITION, TALLAGHT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, DUBLIN | Producer - Catriona Oliphant | Post-production - Catriona Oliphant & Chris Sharp
FURTHER INFORMATION | TUH Institute of Memory & Cognition
#themanyfacesofalzheimer's #TUHdementiaawareness
 

IN THIS FINAL EPISODE, we rejoin BREDA COMISKEY, whom we met earlier in the series.  Despite having Alzheimer’s, Breda is living life to the full.
Heartfelt thanks to PROFESSOR SEÁN KENNELLY and his inspirational team at the INSTITUTE OF MEMORY & COGNITION at TALLAGHT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL for opening their doors and talking to us about the incredible and innovative work they do, and to the patients who generously shared their stories, including RONAN SLATER and his wife, CATHERINE, and BREDA COMISKEY. They have shone a light on what remains a much feared and little understood disease and shown how it is possible to live life to the full even after diagnosis. We hope this will encourage anyone experiencing memory issues to have their symptoms checked out and, if diagnosed with dementia or a mild cognitive impairment, to receive the help and support they need.
CONTRIBUTORS | Fionnuala Sweeney (Presenter), Professor Seán Kennelly & Breda Comiskey.
MUSIC | composed and performed by Jon Henderson (guitar).
PRODUCTION | ChromeRadio (www.chromemedia.co.uk) for the INSTITUTE OF MEMORY & COGNITION, TALLAGHT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, DUBLIN | Producer - Catriona Oliphant | Post-production - Catriona Oliphant & Chris Sharp
FURTHER INFORMATION | TUH Institute of Memory & Cognition
#themanyfacesofalzheimer's #TUHdementiaawareness

Welcome to this introduction to THE MANY FACES OF ALZHEIMER'S, brought to you by the INSTITUTE OF MEMORY & COGNITION at TALLAGHT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, DUBLIN. 
Every three seconds, someone, somewhere in the world, develops dementia. The symptoms don’t always mean the cause is Alzheimer’s disease, but it is the most common type of dementia. Either way, getting help sooner can greatly extend your quality of life. Today, the supports available are greater than ever, and there are new medications coming online that can slow down the progress of the disease.   
PRESENTER FIONNUALA SWEENEY’s father, Tom Sweeney, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease after years of experiencing memory issues and died in late 2021.  After his death, she realised that for several years he had been keeping his concerns to himself. He had known something was wrong but didn’t seek help because of the stigma surrounding the disease.
Fionnuala wanted to do something so that no-one experiencing memory difficulties need ever be afraid to seek help and so contacted PROFESSOR SEÁN KENNELLY at the INSTITUTE OF MEMORY & COGNITION at TALLAGHT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, DUBLIN, a regional specialist memory service that is pioneering a novel and inclusive approach to the assessment and support of people with cognitive issues and dementia. This podcast series is the result.
CONTRIBUTORS | Fionnuala Sweeney (Presenter) & Professor Seán Kennelly (Institute of Memory & Cognition, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin).
MUSIC | composed and performed by Jon Henderson (guitar).
PRODUCTION | ChromeRadio (www.chromemedia.co.uk) for the Institute of Memory & Cognition, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin | Producer - Catriona Oliphant | Post-production - Catriona Oliphant & Chris Sharp
FURTHER INFORMATION | TUH Institute of Memory & Cognition
#themanyfacesofalzheimer's #TUHdementiaawareness

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Additional resourceshttps://irishheart.ie/how-to-keep-your-heart-healthy/https://irishheart.ie/campaigns/her-heart-matters-heart-month/https://www2.hse.ie/living-well/quit-smoking/vaping/https://www.drinkaware.ie/drinks-calculator/https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/menopause/https://www.irishosteoporosis.ie/correct-exercises-for-good-bone-health/https://www.exwell.ieThe Let’s Talk about women’s health is a six part series produced with the support of the SouthDublin County Partnerships Health Project.

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Additional resourceswww.squeeztapp.comAlso www.iscp.ie is the website for the Irish society of chartered physiotherapists in whichthere is a database of physiotherapists working in pelvic health and a resource page withinformation.The Let’s Talk about women’s health is a six part series produced with the support of the SouthDublin County Partnerships Health Project.

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