If you’re like most people, when you think of Alzheimer’s Disease, you picture an old person who can’t remember things or someone losing his/her memory. But in recent years, younger people have been diagnosed with the disease. Recently, a 19-year-old was diagnosed with the debilitating disease, causing concern for the next generation.
The case, presented in a recent issue of the Journal for Alzheimer’s Disease, described a male teenager from Beijing, around age 17-years old at the time, started experiencing memory deterioration and had difficulty concentrating on his high school studies. He was unable to recall where he placed his belongings or what had happened on the previous day and experienced delayed reactions and reading difficulties, the authors of the case also said. The cognitive decline worsened, and a year later, he started suffering from short-term memory loss.
The patient’s brain imaging revealed memory-related hippocampal shrinkage, and his cerebrospinal fluid suggested usual indicators of this most prevalent type of dementia.
Alzheimer’s is typically considered a disorder of the elderly. However, early-onset instances, which include people under the age of 65, account for up to 10% of all diagnoses.
Pathological gene mutations can explain Alzheimer’s in nearly all patients under 30, classifying them as having familial Alzheimer’s disease (FAD). The younger a person is at the time of diagnosis, the more likely it is due to an inherited defective gene.
When researchers from the Capital Medical University in Beijing analyzed the genome, they found no evidence of any normal mutations that cause early onset of memory loss, nor any problematic genes.
Before this recent diagnosis in China, the youngest Alzheimer’s patient was 21 years old. They had the PSEN1 gene mutation, which causes aberrant proteins to accumulate in the brain, generating toxic plaque clumps, a typical hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
How Young is Too Young for Alzheimer’s?
While it’s more common in people over 65, there are documented cases of individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in their 20s. In this early-onset form, also called younger-onset or familial Alzheimer’s disease, is typically associated with genetic mutations. While rare, including one 19-year-old.
Here’s a more detailed explanation:
Early-onset Alzheimer’s:
This occurs when symptoms begin before age 65, often in the 30s, 40s, and 50s.
Familial Alzheimer’s:
This rare form is caused by specific genetic mutations that are passed down through families, leading to early onset.
Sporadic Alzheimer’s:
The majority of people with Alzheimer’s have sporadic Alzheimer’s, which is not attributed to a specific genetic cause.
Young-Onset Dementia:
This is a broader term encompassing various types of dementia that affect people between 18 and 64.
Early Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease to Look for
Just like the rest of our bodies, our brains change as we age. Most of us eventually notice some slowed thinking and occasional problems with remembering certain things. However, serious memory loss, confusion and other major changes in the way our minds work may be a sign that brain cells are failing. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, here are 10 warning signs and symptoms to pay attention to.
1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life
One of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s disease, especially in the early stage, is forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events, asking the same questions over and over, and increasingly needing to rely on memory aids (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own.
What’s a typical age-related change?
Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later.
2. Challenges in planning or solving problems
Some people living with changes in their memory due to Alzheimer’s or other dementia may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before.
What’s a typical age-related change?
Making occasional errors when managing finances or household bills.
3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks
People living with memory changes from Alzheimer’s or other dementia often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes they may have trouble driving to a familiar location, organizing a grocery list or remembering the rules of a favorite game.
What’s a typical age-related change?
Occasionally needing help to use microwave settings or to record a TV show.
4. Confusion with time or place
People living with Alzheimer’s or other dementia can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there.
What’s a typical age-related change?
Getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out later.
5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
Some people living with Alzheimer’s or other dementia could experience vision changes. This may lead to difficulty with balance or trouble reading. They may also have problems judging distance and determining color or contrast, causing issues with driving.
What’s a typical age-related change?
Vision changes related to cataracts.
6. New problems with words in speaking or writing
People living with Alzheimer’s or other dementia may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have trouble naming a familiar object or use the wrong name (e.g., calling a “watch” a “hand-clock”).
What’s a typical age-related change?
Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.
7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
A person living with Alzheimer’s or other dementia may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. He or she may accuse others of stealing, especially as the disease progresses.
What’s a typical age-related change?
Misplacing things from time to time and retracing steps to find them.
8. Decreased or poor judgment
Individuals living with Alzheimer’s or other dementia may experience changes in judgment or decision-making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money or pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean.
What’s a typical age-related change?
Making a bad decision or mistake once in a while, like neglecting to change the oil in the car.
9. Withdrawal from work or social activities
A person living with Alzheimer’s or other dementia may experience changes in the ability to hold or follow a conversation. As a result, they may withdraw from hobbies, social activities or other engagements. They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite team or activity.
What’s a typical age-related change?
Sometimes feeling uninterested in family or social obligations.
10. Changes in mood and personality
Individuals living with Alzheimer’s or other dementia may experience mood and personality changes. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, with friends or when out of their comfort zone.
What’s a typical age-related change?
Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted.
Alzheimer’s Has No Cure, So What Can You Do?
Even though Alzheimer’s has no cure, two treatments — donanemab (Kisunla
) and lecanemab (Leqembi®) — demonstrate that removing beta-amyloid, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease, from the brain reduces cognitive and functional decline in people living with early Alzheimer’s. Other treatments can temporarily slow the worsening of dementia symptoms and improve quality of life for those with living Alzheimer’s and their caregivers. Today, there is a worldwide effort underway to find better ways to treat the disease, delay its onset and prevent it from developing.
