Younger individuals are ‘much more likely’ to not show the typical signs of Alzheimer’s or dementia, a condition that can be particularly challenging to identify in its early stages.
Known as young onset dementia, when diagnosed in people under 65, this form of dementia can manifest in different ways than the typical regression that is more commonly known.
This fact, coupled with a general lack of awareness about the condition, often leads to symptoms being overlooked until it is too late.
The Alzheimer’s Society issued a warning, stating: « Dementia in younger people often has different symptoms, even when it’s caused by the same diseases as in older people.
« Younger people are much more likely to have an ‘atypical’ (unusual) form of Alzheimer’s disease. »
Atypical Alzheimer’s disease comes in various forms, and the initial symptoms a person experiences largely depend on the specific variant they have, which is typically influenced by the area of the brain that is most affected.
One such variant, posterior cortical atrophy, also referred to as Benson’s syndrome and targets the rear part of the brain, leading to difficulties with visual interpretation.
Early signs often involve challenges with processing and understanding visual information, like judging distances.
Another variant, logopenic aphasia, impacts the language centre of the brain and can cause symptoms that are more traditionally linked with dementia or Alzheimer’s, such as difficulty understanding language, frequent long pauses during speech, or trouble finding the correct words to express oneself.
A third variant is behavioural or dysexecutive Alzheimer’s disease, which impacts an individual’s executive function. This can result in difficulties with planning or decision-making and may lead to socially inappropriate behaviour.
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, one in three young people with Alzheimer’s disease will experience one of these three atypical forms.
In contrast, only 1 in 20 older individuals with Alzheimer’s will have an atypical form.
Over 70,800 individuals in the UK are living with young-onset dementia and may exhibit a broader range of early-stage dementia symptoms similar to their older counterparts, but their support needs often differ significantly.
For instance, a dementia diagnosis for a younger person can impact aspects such as their career, mortgage, or even plans to start a family.
Young-onset dementia is also more likely to be inherited and many individuals that are diagnosed might otherwise be perfectly healthy.
However, a variety of treatments and support options are available to assist newly diagnosed young people in adjusting to their diagnosis such as through Alzheimer’s Society.
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