Irish Examiner view: Sharing the experience of dementia could help us all a lot

A much-loved soccer player being diagnosed with dementia is a wake-up call: The condition may touch our lives too one day

Revered by fans of Cork City, Cork Celtic, and Chelsea, Bobby Tambling has been diagnosed with dementia. His life and achievements will be celebrated this Saturday in a charity soccer match between Crosshaven and Carrigaline. File picture

The number of people living with dementia is expected to increase in line with our ageing population, from the current total of just over 64,000 to 150,000-plus by 2045, with significant implications for spending on care and support.

Barely a day passes without reference to the condition, which is not a single disease but rather a term that is used to describe the symptoms which occur when there is a decline in brain function. Alzheimer’s is the most common, but not everyone suffering from dementia has it.