People whose symptoms started when they were under the age
of 65 are often known as ‘younger people with dementia’ or as having
young-onset dementia. This is not for a biological reason, but is based on the
fact that 65 was the usual age of retirement for many people.
People sometimes use the terms ‘early-onset dementia’ or ‘working-age
dementia’. This information uses the term ‘young-onset dementia’.
Dementia is caused by a wide range of different diseases.
This is similar for younger and older people (‘late-onset dementia’), but
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.
Someone who is diagnosed under the age of 65 needs to adjust
to living with a long-term condition as a younger person. They might be
concerned about the effects this will have on their family, relationships,
finances and daily life. They may also be worried that any children or siblings
will have a higher risk of developing dementia. Therefore, young-onset dementia
presents unique challenges for individuals, their families, and healthcare
providers. Diagnosis in younger individuals can be particularly challenging
since dementia is not typically expected at a younger age, leading to delays in
recognizing and evaluating the symptoms. The impact on personal and
professional lives can be significant, as individuals with young-onset dementia
may still be in the workforce, have dependent children, or hold important social
roles.
How common young-onset dementia?
Young-onset dementia is relatively rare compared to dementia
in older adults. The exact prevalence of young-onset dementia is challenging to
determine due to variations in diagnostic criteria, age cutoffs, and study
methodologies. However, it is estimated that around 5-10% of all dementia cases
occur in individuals under the age of 65.
The most common cause of young-onset dementia is Alzheimer's
disease, accounting for a significant proportion of cases. Other causes include
frontotemporal dementia, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and rare
genetic conditions such as Huntington's disease.
It's important to note that the prevalence of different
types of young-onset dementia can vary. For example, frontotemporal dementia
tends to be more common in younger individuals compared to older adults with
dementia.
