The Many Faces of Alzheimer’s

In this podcast, we catch up with CONSULTANT DR AOIFE FALLON and DR NAOMI DAVEY after their Wednesday clinic. CONTRIBUTORS | Fionnuala Sweeney (Presenter), Dr Aoife Fallon (Consultant) & Dr Naomi Davey. MUSIC | composed and performed by Jon Henderson (guitar). PRODUCTION | ChromeRadio ( www.chromemedia.co.uk ) for the INSTITUTE OF MEMORY & COGNITION, TALLAGHT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, DUBLIN |...

Not all memory issues lead to a diagnosis of dementia. That’s why it’s important to get any symptoms that are worrying you checked out. In this podcast, we rejoin PROFESSOR SEÁN KENNELLY in clinic where he is talking the patient we met in an earlier episode through her diagnosis – and he has good news! CONTRIBUTORS | Fionnuala Sweeney (Presenter), Professor Seán Kennelly, patient. MUSIC | composed...

With dementia, timely and accurate diagnosis is very important as certain treatments, including the disease-modifying therapies in development, are currently only likely to be effective in the early stages of the disease. In this episode, we rejoin CONSULTANT NEUROLOGIST DR ANTOINETTE O’CONNOR and PRINCIPAL CLINICAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST DR GARRET McDERMOTT, who play an important role in identifying l...

Alzheimer’s, particularly early onset Alzheimer’s, affects a person’s speech and language.  In this podcast, we hear more from SPEECH & LANGUAGE THERAPISTS LISA SHERIDAN and MEGAN RYAN about their role in the process of reaching a diagnosis and how they can work with patients to help maintain their ability to communicate after diagnosis. CONTRIBUTORS | Fionnuala Sweeney (Presenter), Lisa Sheri...

In this episode, we rejoin OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS FIONA TOBIN and EMMA NOLAN and hear more about their role in the process of reaching a diagnosis and in supporting patients and their families after diagnosis.  CONTRIBUTORS | Fionnuala Sweeney (Presenter), Fiona Tobin & Emma Nolan (Occupational Therapists). MUSIC | composed and performed by Jon Henderson (guitar). PRODUCTION | ChromeRadio ( w...

In this episode, we’re back with RONAN SLATER, who was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s at the age of 59, and his wife, CATHERINE. They tell us why they want to share their story and how, as a couple, they have navigated family life since his diagnosis. CONTRIBUTORS | Fionnuala Sweeney (Presenter), Professor Seán Kennelly, Ronan & Catherine Slater. MUSIC | Jon Henderson (guitar) & Ro...

IN THE FOLLOWING PODCASTS, we meet up with some of the clinicians we heard from briefly in the last three podcasts and learn more about their role in helping the team reach a diagnosis as well as how they support people living with dementia and their families.  We also hear further from the patients about the ups and downs of living with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s. In this episode,...

In this episode, we join PROFESSOR SEÁN KENNELLY and the team for a Friday afternoon clinic and hear from BREDA COMISKEY who is living life to the full despite having Alzheimer’s. CONTRIBUTORS | Fionnuala Sweeney (Presenter), Professor Seán Kennelly & his clinical team, Breda Comiskey. MUSIC | composed and performed by Jon Henderson (guitar). PRODUCTION | ChromeRadio ( www.chromemedia.co.uk )...

IN THIS EPISODE, we hear more from ADVANCED NURSE PRACTITIONER CATHY MCHALE about the assessment process.  We also meet other members of the multidisclipinary team involved in reaching a diagnosis – OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, SPEECH & LANGUAGE THERAPISTS and NEUROLOGY – and learn what supports are available.  But first, we hear from RONAN SLATER, who was diagnosed with early onset dementia a few...

In the NEXT THREE EPISODES, we meet clinicians and patients and learn what to expect upon referral to the Memory Service, the process of assessment and diagnosis, and the supports available after diagnosis.  We begin by joining PROFESSOR SEÁN KENNELLY in clinic where he is talking a patient through her diagnosis. She faced her fear, got herself referred, and it’s good news! CONTRIBUTORS | Fionnual...

The number of people being diagnosed with some form of dementia is increasing each year, with Alzheimer’s disease accounting for around 70% of cases.  By 2050, it’s estimated that 153 million people will be living with the disease. Diagnosis is complex as two people with the same disease, for example Alzheimer’s, can present with differing symptoms.  In the MEMORY SERVICE at TALLAGHT UNIVERSITY HO...

IN THIS FINAL EPISODE, we rejoin BREDA COMISKEY, whom we met earlier in the series.  Despite having Alzheimer’s, Breda is living life to the full. Heartfelt thanks to PROFESSOR SEÁN KENNELLY and his inspirational team at the INSTITUTE OF MEMORY & COGNITION at TALLAGHT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL for opening their doors and talking to us about the incredible and innovative work they do, and to the pati...

Welcome to this introduction to THE MANY FACES OF ALZHEIMER'S, brought to you by the INSTITUTE OF MEMORY & COGNITION at TALLAGHT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, DUBLIN.  Every three seconds, someone, somewhere in the world, develops dementia. The symptoms don’t always mean the cause is Alzheimer’s disease, but it is the most common type of dementia. Either way, getting help sooner can greatly extend your...

In this podcast our Consultant Endocrinologist Dr. Lucy Ann Behan explains menopause, and what can be done to help women ease common symptoms like hot flushes and anxiety. Lucy also talks about what options are available for women who may not be able to take Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Her colleague Colleen Byrne an Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Women’s Health talks about how women can exp...

In this podcast, Cathy McHale, an Advanced Nurse Practitioner, at the Hospital’s Institute of Memory & Cognition drills down on the latest advice from the Lancet Commission as to what women can do to keep their brains healthy to prevent dementia. Her colleague Dr Valerie Twomey a Neuropsychologist who is also the head of the TUH Psychology Department offers advice on coping with brain fog....

In this podcast, Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Chest Pain Shirley Ingram explains that heart disease is the biggest killer of women in Ireland. It’s not all bad news however as Shirley explains there is much women can do to prevent heart disease like eating a healthy diet and exercising. Her colleague David Askin an Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Bone Health explains why it’s so important that wo...

In this podcast, we hear from Consultant Gynaecologist Dr. Aoife O’Neil who explains what causes pelvic prolapse, which can lead to incontinence for some women. Our Specialist Urogynaecology Physiotherapist Gráinne Wall, explains from a physiotherapy point of view what can be done in terms of the different exercises to strengthen the muscles of the pelvis which may have weakened for different reas...

In this podcast, Consultant Gynaecologist Dr. Alison Di Maio and Specialist Endometriosis Nurse Paula Earley explain that endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb starts to grow in other places. For example, the ovaries, the lining of the tummy and fallopian tubes. We hear how endometriosis can affect women of any age and that it is a long-term condition that can...

In this podcast, Consultant Gynaecologist Dr. Aoife O’Neil and Sinead Cleary an Advanced Practitioner in Women’s Health explain why it’s so important that women don’t put off getting their cervical screen. Aoife our Gynaecologist explains that the early signs of cervical cancer can be hidden inside the body (unlike breast cancer where you might feel a lump) and that early detection via a cervical...

Episode #5 Podcast host Dr. Valerie Twomey, Clinical Neuropsychologist at TUH speaks with her colleague, Senior Counselling Psychologist Noelle O’Keefe on How Diabetes impacts the Mental Health of Patients. The Let’s Talk about Diabetes is a five part series produced with the support of the South Dublin County Partnerships Health Project.

Episode #4. Podcast host Dr. Valerie Twomey, Clinical Neuropsychologist at TUH speaks with Fiona Boyle a Senior Podiatrist in Integrated Care, and Clinical Nurse Specialist Fiona Fullam on How Patients can best manage their Diabetes Complications. The Let’s Talk about Diabetes is a five part series produced with the support of the South Dublin County Partnerships Health Project.   Links to resourc...

Episode #3 Podcast host Dr. Valerie Twomey, Clinical Neuropsychologist at TUH speaks Senior Dietitians Fiona O’Shea and Rachel Sheane who work in the Chronic Disease Management Hub in Tallaght on Diabetes education and what materials are available   Additional Resources mentioned in this podcast can be found via the following links: Discover Diabetes (https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/type-2-diabetes...

Episode # 2  Podcast host Dr. Valerie Twomey, Clinical Neuropsychologist at TUH speaks with Michelle Tracey, a patient with Type 1 Diabetes and Ann Fitzpatrick, an Advanced Nursed Practitioner in Diabetes on the reality of living with Diabetes. The Let’s Talk about Diabetes is a five part series produced with the support of the South Dublin County Partnerships Health Project.

In Episode #1 Podcast host Dr. Valerie Twomey, Clinical Neuropsychologist at TUH speaks to Ann Fitzpatrick, an Advanced Nursed Practitioner in Diabetes on what exactly Diabetes is and how it is treated. The Let’s Talk about Diabetes is a five part series produced with the support of the South Dublin County Partnerships Health Project.

Each episode of the Let’s Talk About Down Syndrome series is targeted at individuals with Down syndrome, their families, carers, health and social care staff and anybody who has an interest in the health needs of adults with Down syndrome in Ireland. The series is hosted by Geraldine Kyle, a registered nurse tutor in TUH and mother of a young adult with Down syndrome. Episode #5 Professor of Agein...