Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The issue I wish to raise, namely, Alzheimer's disease, is related to an issue raised by Senators White and Landy. A very interesting study published earlier this week showed that a walk three times a week can help reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease. It has been much publicised. What was not highlighted in the report was the fact that research presented to the Alzheimer's Association international conference in Copenhagen last week demonstrated ways to identify the disease at a much earlier stage, involving simple, non-invasive eye and smell tests to catch the early clues that a person might suffer from Alzheimer's disease in years to come. This evidence is obviously subject to further study, but by the time Alzheimer's disease symptoms come to the fore, brain degeneration is often irreparable. These latest findings could be a game changer and are something our Department of Health should investigate. According to the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, 48,000 people are currently suffering dementia in this country. With a rapidly ageing population, the figure is set to almost triple to 132,000 by 2041.

Could the Leader arrange for the national dementia policy strategy, which is to be published in September, to be discussed in the House with the new Minister for Health next September of October? According to the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, there are currently gross inadequacies across Ireland in terms of accessing dementia-specific services, which is a particular problem for people with dementia living in the regions and for those under 65 years of age. It is vital we address the gaps in the supports. I ask the Leader to invite the new Minister to the House in September of October to debate the strategy the Government intends to implement.