11 September 2023 , 02:03
489
0
Dementia is often thought of as a disease that only affects the elderly - but that isn't always the case.
Young onset dementia refers to when the symptoms of the degenerative brain disorder start to present themselves in people under 65 - typically between the ages of 30 and 65. These early symptoms often go unnoticed due to the association of dementia with old age, and are often attributed to other causes like depression, stress, menopause, other physical health problems or even relationship issues. An estimated 70,800 people in the UK are currently living with young onset dementia.
Experts at Dementia UK say it's vital for those with young onset dementia to get an accurate diagnosis as quickly as possible, as delays can mean they don't get the support they need. Contrary to popular perception, the first sign of the disease in younger people is often not memory loss but rather changes in certain aspects of someone's personality, mental or physical abilities and mood.
Here are some of the key symptoms to look out for:
- changes in behaviour and personality e.g. developing new habits or a sense of humour
- language problems like aphasia e.g. not being able to find the right words
- decline in social functioning e.g. becoming less willing to socialise or maintain relationships
- clumsiness or issues with balance
- mood changes e.g. depression or anxiety
- reduced concentration levels
- problems with decision making and problem solving
- problems with vision and spatial awareness e.g. difficulty judging distances or volume
The symptoms of dementia will change in a person over time and their abilities will deteriorate according to the type of disease they have, from Alzheimer's to mixed dementia to alcohol related brain damage. Anyone concerned about possible symptoms of young onset dementia is encouraged to see their GP as soon as possible so they can get help to live as well as possible with the condition.
Family of great-great-gran, 83, killed by dog call for Bully breed to be banned
Former ITV newsreader and journalist Alastair Stewart recently revealed he has vascular dementia just months after retiring from his five-decade-long career. The former ITV newsreader and journalist, 71, told GB News his "very short-term memory" had become "tricky" and his motor skills "very tricky", saying visited his GP after feeling "discombobulated" around six months ago.
He said: "It was like a scene from Casualty or Emergency Ward 10 because the results came back and I had indeed had a series of minor strokes. Not the big one where your face falls down and your arm goes doolally, but it's like pepper shots, and the cumulative effect of that is that I had a diagnosis of early onset vascular dementia."