Younger dementia sufferers ‘depressed’

People who develop dementia at a relatively young age are affected by depression, a sense of loss of role in the family and the community, and loneliness, yet supports are limited for this group, according to research.

A ‘Living Well with Dementia’ conference held in Cork yesterday, organised by the education centre at St Lukes Home in Mahon, heard 3,583 people in Ireland are affected by early onset dementia, with that figure expected to rise to 5,000 in the next year or two.

Caroline Kilty, who has completed a PhD on early onset dementia, said her findings also showed that about half of dementia sufferers’ caregivers reported suffering from anxiety and depression themselves.