S2 Ep1: Down Syndrome and Dementia

Listen to our conversation with Dr. Madeleine Healy, a passionate geriatrician and general physician supporting people living with dementia. Madeleine works across Monash Health and HammondCare, bringing her expertise to memory clinics, acute and subacute services, residential aged care, and Dementia Support Australia.

In this episode, Madeleine shares her journey into dementia diagnosis and care, particularly for individuals with Down syndrome. She reveals how her passion for helping those with intellectual disabilities led her to pursue a PhD focused on designing a specialised memory clinic for dementia diagnosis for people with Down syndrome. Her PhD is focused on working with people with Down Syndrome to design a memory clinic that meets their needs. She shares about the symptoms of dementia to be aware of in people living with Down Syndrome and the importance of regular screening to understand changes in memory, thinking and function. People living with Down syndrome now live up to 60 years and are the largest population group that are genetically predisposed to developing dementia. Learn why innovative service models are crucial for providing the care and support this community needs. Tune in to hear Madeleine's insights and the vital work being done to improve dementia care for those most at risk

“We need better cognitive services for people with Down Syndrome and other intellectual disabilities, so that we have equal access to dementia diagnosis and to management and to post diagnostic support.”

Hosted by Darshini Ayton and Sarah Carmody

Produced by Darshini Ayton

Music by Luke Champion

An initiative of the Centre of Research Excellence in Enhanced Dementia Diagnosis which is funded by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council.

This podcast was recorded on Wurundjeri Country. We acknowledge the Traditional owners and custodians of the Wurundjeri Land, the Boonwurrung and the Woiwurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present. Lands which Sovereignty was never ceded. Always was, always will be Aboriginal Lands.