Sir, – Your leading article (February 27th) on life expectancy emphasises the simple measures, such as diet, child healthcare, blood pressure control, etc, that an individual or state can implement to live a longer life.
However, no discussion on life expectancy is complete without mentioning the issue of dementia, a complication of ageing that is currently epidemic and is increasing in incidence. Until we conquer dementia, it is a moot point whether further improvements in life expectancy above current levels are worth chasing. – Yours, etc,
DR TOM O’ROURKE,
Gorey,
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Co Wexford.