Dementia is one of the main causes of disability in later life and presents a major challenge to health care systems and society generally a conference in Dublin heard yesterday.

Healthcare practitioners, academics and sufferers of dementia gathered in St James' Hospital today for the launch of 'Living with Dementia' a research programme in dementia care which is being run by Trinity College Dublin in conjunction with the Dementia Services Information and Development Centre (DSIDC)

40,000 people in Ireland with dementia

The research programme aims to tackle the marginalisation of people with dementia, enhance service provision, and improve quality of life for all those diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

According to programme director Suzanne Cahill, there are more than 40,000 people in Ireland with dementia.

Pointing out that treatment only works in approximately a third of cases, she said that in the short term, people are reliant on health, social and community care policy, and that more evidence-based information and guidelines are needed.

Bishop Brian Hannon, who was diagnosed with Alzheimers in 2007, described how he was "depressed, embarrassed and frightened" when he was diagnosed with the condition.

Dr Hannon, whose son, singer Neil Hannon of the Divine Comedy was present, said early diagnosis of the condition played a vital role in allowing him to adjust and cope with the condition.

The tendency to "medicalise" dementia was a central theme of the conference.

Dr Emer Begley said there is a need for more psycho-social interventions for people with dementia, and further research in this area is essential.

Launching the programme, Minister of State with responsibility for Older People and Health Promotion Áine Brady TD said the changing demographic of Irish society means that the number of people over-65 is set to triple in the next 30 years.

She said that while the favoured Government policy is to allow people to stay at home for the longest possible time, the Government has significantly improved policy with regards to the regulation and quality of nursing homes in recent year.

For further information: http://www.dementia.ie/