Early Alzheimer's diagnosis 'is vital'
A RETIRED Church of Ireland Bishop has stressed the importance of an early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.
Speaking of his own personal experience with the illness, former Bishop of Clogher, the Rt Rev Brian Hannon, recalled how a throwaway remark during a regular check-up with his own doctor two years ago changed his outlook on life.
However, the 73-year-old is successfully countering the most common cause of dementia and has called for drug treatment — Aricept — to be made readily available through the National Health Service.
Speaking to the News Letter, Mr Hannon described the moment he was diagnosed as having Alzheimer's as "absolutely horrific".
"I didn't know I had a problem at all," he said, reflecting on his doctor's appointment in November 2007.
"I was expecting a quick and happy chat until on the way out of the room I joked there is only one problem — I can't remember anybody's name.
"That was all I needed to say because within 24 hours he had me with a geriatric specialist and was able to show me exactly where I had the problem in the little memory section of my brain."
The Enniskillen man, father of The Divine Comedy singer, Neil, revealed the diagnosis was a major shock both to himself and his family.
"My first reaction was two to three months of pretty depressive behaviour. I couldn't even mention the word Alzheimer's — it just did terrible things to me," he said.
However, after coming to terms with his illness, the former clergyman made a personal decision, given his previous occupation, to spread the word.
"I decided at an early stage, I suppose partly because I was a Bishop for 25 years, to go out and tell people.
"My philosophy was 'don't disappear to the other end of the street or don't let them disappear to the other side of the street', which was inclined to happen at the early stages.
"I made sure I said to every person I met and knew that I had Alzheimer's. At first they gasped slightly but began to get used to it.
“Just as people talk about cancer and its different forms, people are now thankfully beginning to do the same with Alzheimer’s and treating it as a normal thing that an awful lot of people have,” he added.
Mr Hannon hailed the Aricept pill — which he takes once a day — and the positive effect it has had on his well-being.
The pensioner says he continues to lead a normal life, enjoying his small farm, walking his dogs and going regularly to the library.
As well as gaining comfort through his faith, the keen pianist also gains fulfilment from playing the instrument on a daily basis and completing a codeword provided by a national newspaper.
Despite the progressive nature of the illness, Bishop Hannon is defying medical opinion.
“The doctor and specialist have both said it is quite extraordinary that I am now better rather than worse than I was two years ago,” he said.
“If that can happen to people by getting there early and making sure they have had that contact with their doctor all the better.
“Some people once they hear they have Alzheimer’s they disappear into the background, give up life and decide they’ve had it.
“It’s very important early on to recognise it, get over your depressive period and get the pill if it is available.”
Mr Hannon spoke out after the Alzheimer’s Society in Northern Ireland called for a major awareness campaign in the Province to tackle the lack of understanding about dementia.
Its appeal came in the aftermath of the death of a Co Fermanagh couple who were affected by the illness.
Anne Barbour, 83, was found dead in her Enniskillen home last month. The body of her 88-year-old husband, Bill, was recovered from a nearby lough.
It is believed that Mr Barbour helped his wife — who suffered from Alzheimer’s — end her life when it became too much to bear, before taking his own.
A special service celebrating the lives of the couple is expected to be held in the lakeland town next month.
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Monday 28 May 2012
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