Alzheimer’s disease and dementia commonly strike after the age of 65. However, there are instances when these conditions occur in people in their 40s and 50s. Always a devastating diagnosis, early onset can be particularly difficult because of its unexpected nature and the effect on work, finances and family can be much greater. Here we will explore the hallmarks, causes and symptoms of early-onset dementia.
A major indicator of early-onset dementia is the presence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), mild, slowly-worsening memory loss. MCI is commonly described as the transitional zone between age-related memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease. People with MCI are able to think clearly, solve problems, learn new information and communicate in spite of minor memory loss. However, this memory loss is more severe than age-related memory loss.
While the cause of MCI is not exactly known, we do know that most individuals affected by MCI eventually develop Alzheimer’s disease. Like Alzheimer’s disease, MCI is believed to be linked to abnormal deposits of proteins, or plaques, in the brain. A small number of cases of MCI are not related to Alzheimer’s disease, but to other causes of dementia that include stroke, Parkinson disease, head injury, depression or extreme stress. The speed in which symptoms develop is often a clue to the cause of MCI. For example, MCI related to Alzheimer’s disease develops slowly in most cases. MCI of other causes may develop more quickly.
The root cause of early-onset dementia is often the same for younger and older adults: Alzheimer’s disease (the most common form or familial, which affects an individual whose parent or grandparent developed AD at a younger age), vascular dementia and frontotemporal dementia.
Daniel Bradbury is one individual who is well-known for his development of early-onset dementia. As a 30-year-old father, he has been working to raise money to take his family to Disney World Florida to create life-long memories before the disease leads to complications. Read Daniel’s story here on BBC News.
The most common symptom of mild cognitive impairment is memory loss. But other, less common symptoms include disturbances in language and difficulty finding the right word, inability to concentrate and becoming disoriented in familiar surroundings.
It’s important to note that significant memory loss is not a normal part of aging.
Because it can sometimes be difficult to discern the difference between the normal aging process and memory loss that should be of concern, here’s a quick refresher:
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If you or a loved one start to experience frequent, life-interrupting memory loss, especially short-term memory loss, it’s a good indicator that it’s time to visit the doctor.
In our next post we will explore tests for diagnosis, treatment options and prognosis. If you would like to read more about the basics of Alzheimer’s Disease, click here.