Dementia can affect people as young as 30, although this is uncommon. In the UK, around 944,000 people live with dementia, and more than 70,800 are estimated to have young-onset dementia, which develops before age 65. Cases in people in their 30s and 40s have been recorded.
What is early-onset dementia?
Dementia is an umbrella term for symptoms caused by various brain-damaging conditions, with Alzheimer's disease being the leading cause. When diagnosed before age 65, it is called young-onset or early-onset dementia. Some forms, like frontotemporal dementia (FTD), often begin in a person's 30s, 40s, or 50s. Huntington's disease, an inherited genetic disorder, can lead to dementia in a person's 30s, and alcohol-related brain damage from severe long-term heavy drinking can cause cognitive decline starting around age 30.
How symptoms differ in younger people
Younger people with dementia are more likely to have rarer forms and less likely to have memory loss as an early symptom. They are more likely to experience problems with movement, walking, coordination, or balance. Up to 10% of younger people with dementia have inherited forms, and many have no other serious health conditions.
Early signs to watch for
Early symptoms may include behavioural and emotional changes, such as irritability or anxiety, communication issues like difficulty finding words, and changes in walking gait. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, early signs can include forgetting important information, asking for the same information repeatedly, trouble solving problems, losing track of dates or locations, vision problems, difficulty joining conversations, misplacing items, poor judgment, withdrawal from social situations, and mood or personality changes.
Later symptoms and risk factors
Later symptoms can include severe mood swings, deepening confusion, suspicions about others, trouble speaking or swallowing, and severe memory loss. Research from the American Academy of Neurology has linked inflammation in the 20s and 30s, measured by C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, to cognitive decline in middle age.
In the UK, medication can help control symptoms of early-onset Alzheimer's, but there is no cure. The Alzheimer's Society recommends regular exercise, a balanced diet, not smoking, moderating alcohol, and staying mentally and socially active to support overall well-being.
