Dementia rates likely to double in next 16 years

The number of people with dementia is expected to almost double in the next 16 years, a conference on Alzheimer's disease heard at the weekend.

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland warned of a "major crisis" if services for people with dementia were not "radically overhauled" as soon as possible.

Prof Eamon O'Shea, of the department of economics at the National University of Ireland, Galway, said 35,000 had dementia now but that would increase to 61,500 by 2026. Alzheimer's disease accounts for about two- thirds of dementia cases.

The State's ageing population was a key factor in the predicted increase, Prof O'Shea told the 15th Alzheimer Europe conference in Killarney.

He stressed the need for extra resources to cater for the increased demand on community and residential care for people with dementia.

Maurice O'Connell, the Alzheimer Society of Ireland's chief executive, called on doctors, carers and politicians to do all they could to remove the stigma and fear surrounding dementia. "Everybody's responsible for it," he said. "We have to confront it now and we should be looking for a radical overhaul of services for people with dementia. If we don't put in the investment now, we will have a major crisis on our hands in 20 years' time. Then it will be too late."

The conference also heard that most GPs have never had specific training to treat dementia and the vast majority would like this training.

Suzanne Cahill and Maeve Clarke from the Dementia Services Information and Development Centre at St James's Hospital, Dublin, presented a survey of 300 GPs, at the conference.

The study found that many doctors had difficulty in diagnosing dementia. Some 31 per cent of GPs found it difficult to differentiate dementia from normal ageing symptoms and 30 per cent of those surveyed felt a lack of confidence in making the diagnosis.

More than one in four GPs said the impact of the diagnosis on the patient made them hesitate in making the diagnosis. The survey found that a minority of GPs "always or often" disclosed the diagnosis of dementia to the patient. Many GPs said they withheld the information if they felt the patient would not be able to comprehend it.

Up to 400 delegates from 31 countries attended the four-day conference in Killarney, which ended yesterday.