Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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This is a very important session for the committee and we all have an interest in this subject. I do not think that there are many people who have not been affected by dementia in the form of a family member suffering from it, and I include myself in that.

The figures are quite stark. In the next 20 years, the number of people living with dementia will have more than doubled. Obviously people are living longer and that is an extremely good thing. However, some people will ask why are people developing dementia. Is there a reason the figures is exponentially rising? How common is it for people under the age of 55 to develop dementia and is that number increasing? Is there any reason for the prevalence of dementia other than people living longer?