Helen Rochford Brennan has always been a fighter, championing the cause of the underdog, be they refugees or people with a disability.

Legislation that replaces a century-old law calling people with a mental illness “lunatics” will take six months to fully implement, it has emerged.

Smoking can double the risk of dementia, and campaigners are warning the number suffering from the condition will treble within a generation.

Every three seconds someone in the world develops dementia, with a global report warning the annual cost of the disease will top €1 trillion by 2018.

There was absolutely no monkey business when Fota Wildlife Park carried off the main prize at an internet awards ceremony.

An increasing number of companies funded by public money are refusing to attend hearings of the industrial relations machinery of the State and/or refusing to be bound by their recommendations.

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland has welcomed research which claims that a new blood test could detect Alzheimer’s disease three years before symptoms of memory loss.

Four brothers who lost their mother to Alzheimer’s have helped their father organise a fundraising cycle in her memory to help other families caring for a loved one with dementia.

The political world has expressed its sympathies to Michael Noonan following the death of the finance minister’s wife, Florence.

A senior citizens' lobby group, Older & Bolder, is concerned about the impact of many of the measures proposed in the Government’s four-year plan on citizens on lower and fixed incomes.

FAMILY carers for people with Alzheimer’s are in danger of burning out as the waiting list for a home care service has peaked at 1,000 people since last year, the Alzheimer Society of Ireland has warned.

Some 1,000 people with dementia are on the Alzheimer Society of Ireland's waiting list for help.

SENIOR clergymen in Tralee moved yesterday to resolve a continuing row that could affect services for 17 Alzheimer’s disease patients in the area.

A marathon debate will take place on the streets of Cork next Monday in aid of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland.

SEAN Lyons counts himself lucky that his wife, Beda, who suffers from dementia, can continue to live at home with him.

The Department of Health is being urged today to regulate the prescribing of anti-psychotic drugs to elderly people in care homes.

ONE in every 10 nursing home residents are being given “inappropriate medication” to deal with their dementia, it was claimed yesterday.

RACING tycoon JP McManus will be honoured in his native Limerick today with a special lifetime achievement award which will be presented to him by Tánaiste Mary Harney.

More younger people will suffer from mental illness particularly dementia, the Alzheimer Society of Ireland claimed tonight.

WATERFORD’S Mayor claims he has been “snubbed” by an organisation for which he and other have helped raise €40,000 over the years.

Niamh Nolan hears of the fight Waterford Red Cross has made for survival.

THE Alzheimer Society of Ireland urges the Government urgently to upgrade services for sufferers of the disease. The group made the call following the publication of two surveys that examined the needs of Alzheimer sufferers before World Alzheimer Day on September 21.