For people living with Alzheimer’s disease, and for their families, the landscape of treatment is changing. New disease-modifying therapies are offering eligible patients the possibility of slowing the progression of early Alzheimer’s disease – but accessing these treatments requires specialist assessment, accurate diagnosis and ongoing expert care.
Now, that care is coming closer to home for patients in Ireland.
Re:Cognition Health has opened its first Irish clinic in Dublin, creating the first dedicated independent memory centre in Ireland offering access to Alzheimer’s disease-modifying treatments, including Leqembi® (lecanemab) and Kisunla® (donanemab), for eligible patients with early Alzheimer’s disease.
Located within the Affidea Tallaght clinic at Tallaght Cross East, the new Re:Cognition Health service brings specialist Alzheimer’s assessment, diagnosis and treatment to patients in Ireland.
The new clinic marks an important step in the development of specialist Alzheimer’s care in Ireland and the next stage of Re:Cognition Health’s international expansion.
Bringing treatment closer to home
Until now, many Irish patients seeking specialist assessment and access to disease-modifying Alzheimer’s treatments have travelled to Re:Cognition Health’s clinics in the UK.
For patients and their families, travelling overseas can add another layer of complexity at what is already a challenging time. The opening of the Dublin clinic means eligible patients can now access specialist assessment, diagnostic investigations and treatment closer to home.
Professor Sean Kennelly, Clinical Director for Ireland at Re:Cognition Health, said:
“The arrival of disease-modifying therapies has fundamentally changed what is possible in Alzheimer’s care. For the first time, we can offer eligible patients treatments that address the underlying biology of the disease rather than simply managing symptoms.
“Bringing this expertise and treatment capability to Dublin means patients can receive world-class care much closer to home, with ongoing support from an experienced specialist team.”
A new era of Alzheimer’s treatment
Leqembi and Kisunla represent a significant development in Alzheimer’s care. Unlike traditional medications that primarily help manage symptoms, these anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies are designed to target amyloid, a protein associated with Alzheimer’s disease, and have been shown in clinical trials to slow disease progression in appropriate patients with early disease.
Their availability also highlights the growing importance of early and accurate diagnosis.
Identifying Alzheimer’s disease at an earlier stage can help determine whether a patient may be eligible for disease-modifying treatment. This requires specialist cognitive assessment and, where appropriate, biomarker-led diagnostic investigations to establish an accurate diagnosis.
For Re:Cognition Health, this is an area in which the organisation has extensive experience, having been involved in Alzheimer’s clinical research and the delivery of disease-modifying treatments.
Dr Emer MacSweeney, CEO, Co-Founder and Medical Director of Re:Cognition Health, describes the opening as a significant moment for both the organisation and dementia care in Ireland:
“This is a landmark moment not only for Re:Cognition Health but for dementia care in Ireland.”
Dr MacSweeney added:
“We have welcomed many Irish patients to our UK clinics over recent years, so opening in Dublin is a natural and important next step.”
Supporting patients beyond diagnosis
Access to a disease-modifying treatment is only one part of the patient journey. Specialist care also involves assessment, treatment planning, monitoring and ongoing support.
The Dublin clinic has been designed around this wider journey, with the aim of providing continuity of care from initial assessment through to treatment and follow-up.
Dustin Reibe, Operations Director at Re:Cognition Health, said:
“Opening our Dublin clinic is the beginning of a long-term commitment to transforming memory care across Ireland.”
He added:
“We know demand for specialist cognitive assessment and disease-modifying treatments for Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases continues to grow, and this clinic has been designed to deliver an exceptional patient experience from diagnosis through to treatment and follow-up care.”
The next step for memory care in Ireland
The opening of the Dublin clinic is the first phase of Re:Cognition Health’s expansion in Ireland, with additional memory services and specialist clinics planned as demand develops.
For Irish patients and families, its arrival comes at a time when Alzheimer’s care is entering a new era – one in which earlier diagnosis, specialist assessment and treatments that can alter the course of disease are becoming increasingly important.
As Dr MacSweeney explains:
“Our ambition is to ensure people across Ireland have access to world-class diagnosis, treatment and ongoing specialist care, giving eligible patients the best possible chance to live well for longer.”
The Dublin clinic represents a significant step towards that ambition, bringing Re:Cognition Health’s specialist expertise and access to innovative Alzheimer’s treatments closer to the patients and families who need them.
For further information and to book a consultation please visit https://www.recognitionhealth.com/ireland/
Or call +353 818 016 321