More than 35,000 people in Ireland have Dementia, and Alzheimer's Disease is the most common form. It is an illness that makes it hard for people to remember, think, and use language. It can make them act strange or seem moody. After a while, people with Alzheimer's have a hard time with things like using the phone, cooking or handling money.
Sadly, many people think the early symptoms of Alzheimer's are signs of normal aging. So Alzheimer's is often not diagnosed and treated early.
The disease is more common in older adults. And it affects all races. About 1 in 10 people over the age of 65 have Alzheimer's. As many as 5 in 10 people over the age of 85 have Alzheimer's.
Through research, we are learning more about how the brain is affected in Alzheimer's. We do not yet know how to prevent or cure it. But we do know how to treat its symptoms. Medicine prescribed by your GP can help treat the symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimer's.
People with Alzheimer's often do better if they start treatment early. Medicine can slow down the symptoms of Alzheimer's. People who start medical treatment early may keep higher memory and thinking skills longer. Also, treatment may help people keep doing their daily tasks longer. Taking medicine may help people stay in the community longer.
The first symptoms of Alzheimer's may be hard to tell from the normal signs of aging. Forgetting names, forgetting phone numbers, losing things more often. People may accept these as a normal part of aging. But don't ignore them. When they affect daily life, they may be early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
Symptoms can vary from person to person. Some common symptoms of Alzheimer's are:
Bipolar Disorder is an illness of severe mood swings. It is also called manic depression. If you have this illness, you may have periods of severe high or low moods. These periods may impact your day-to-day functioning. Around 40,000 Irish People have bipolar disorder. But these numbers could be higher. That's because many people with this illness don't know they have it. So they don't seek treatment.
You can help a loved one with bipolar disorder. Call often or go with your loved one to doctor visits. Help with daily activities. Your support may help lower your loved one's chances of having a symptom relapse.
If you think that a loved one has bipolar disorder, encourage him or her to see a doctor. A family doctor is a good place to start. He or she may then refer you to a psychiatrist. If you can, go with your loved one to this doctor visit. Talk about any symptoms you've noticed since your loved one may not recognize these symptoms or think to mention them. This can help the doctor make the right diagnosis - which is important for effective treatment.
Everyone has times when they're feeling down. If you have depression, this sad mood along with other symptoms can last weeks, months, or even years if not treated. Depression isn't a sign of weakness or a character flaw. It's a real medical condition, but there are ways to successfully treat depression.
More people suffer from depression than you might think. Depression strikes people of all ages, backgrounds, and ethnic groups. Depressive disorders affect about 300,000 Irish adults. Nearly twice as many women as men are affected by a depressive illness each year.
Most people with depression can get help from treatment. For most people, spotting depression early and getting it treated might cut down on how long and how serious the depression is. The most common treatments are antidepressant medicines, "talk" therapy, or a combination of both. You and your doctor can work together to decide on the right depression treatment for you.