Although dementia is typically associated with elderly people, there are warning signs of the disease that can strike people of a younger age.
Dementia can begin before the age of 65, which is known as early onset. But it may actually start even earlier and worsen if the symptoms are not recognized. In the UK, over 70,800 people are living with young-onset dementia.
There have been rare cases reported of individuals as young as 30 being affected by dementia. According to data by Alzheimer’s Research UK, the number of individuals with dementia is projected to rise from around 57 million in 2019 to 153 million by 2050.
Dementia is a condition that can make it difficult for individuals to perform daily tasks independently due to memory and cognitive issues.
Dementia is not a standalone disease, but a combination of symptoms stemming from brain damage due to various illnesses. Alzheimer’s disease being the most prevalent cause.
The charity says: “The causes of Alzheimer’s disease are very complex, but one key part is the build-up of two substances inside the brain called amyloid and tau. When conditions in the brain aren’t right, these clump up and form tiny structures called plaques and tangles. These make it harder for the brain to work properly.”
There are important differences in how dementia affects younger people. These include the following:
- A wider range of diseases cause young-onset dementia.
- A younger person is much more likely to have a rarer form of dementia.
- Younger people with dementia are less likely to have memory loss as one of their first symptoms.
- Young-onset dementia is more likely to cause problems with movement, walking, co-ordination or balance.
- Young-onset dementia is more likely to be inherited (passed on through genes) – this affects up to 10% of younger people with dementia.
- Many younger people with dementia don’t have any other serious or long-term health conditions.
It’s not very common for health professionals to have a lot of experience in recognizing the symptoms of dementia in younger people, as it’s a relatively rare condition.
It can be challenging to identify early symptoms as they may not be immediately obvious. They could easily be attributed to other factors like stress, relationship issues, work challenges, or even menopause.
It’s possible that early symptoms might not include memory loss, but could instead involve changes in behaviour, language, vision, or personality.
For most people with early-onset Alzheimer disease, the symptoms closely mirror those of other forms of Alzheimer disease. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, early symptoms can include:
- Forgetting important things, particularly newly learned information or important dates
- Asking for the same information again and again
- Trouble solving basic problems, such as keeping track of bills or following a favorite recipe
- Losing track of the date or time of year
- Losing track of where you are and how you got there
- Trouble with depth perception or other vision problems
- Trouble joining conversations or finding the right word for something
- Misplacing things and not being able to retrace your steps to find it
- Increasingly poor judgment
- Withdrawal from work and social situations
- Changes in mood and personality
Later symptoms could be:
- Severe mood swings and behavior changes
- Deepening confusion about time, place, and life events
- Suspicions about friends, family, or caregivers
- Trouble speaking, swallowing, or walking
- Severe memory loss
Studies have also shown a connection between inflammation in your 20s and 30s and the beginning of cognitive decline in middle age.
Experts looked into increased levels of a substance called C-reactive protein (CRP) in the bloodstream, as reported by the American Academy of Neurology. CRP is created when there is inflammation. Signs of inflammation consist of joint pain, stiffness, digestive issues, and tiredness.
In the UK, individuals who are diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s can receive medication to help control symptoms. Unfortunately, there is no cure for dementia once it develops.
If you’re a young person trying to prevent the disease, there are ways to increase your odds of staying healthy. The Alzheimer’s Society recommends six daily steps to improve your overall well-being: exercising, eating healthily, avoid smoking, drink less alcohol and stay mentally and socially active.
