The family of a 24-year-old man who died from early-onset dementia just after Christmas have made the poignant decision to donate his brain to science, hoping it will unlock vital clues for researchers.
A Rapid and Devastating Decline
Andre Yarham began showing symptoms, including forgetfulness and inappropriate behaviour, before being diagnosed a month prior to his 23rd birthday. His cognitive abilities deteriorated swiftly. He passed away on December 27 after an infection, which his weakened immune system – a consequence of his condition – could not fight.
His mother, Sam Fairbairn, 49, from Dereham, Norfolk, told of the heartbreaking decision. "Unfortunately he wasn’t able to make the decision himself because the disease had taken his voice and his mind quite early on," she said. "But Andre being the person he was, if he could help he would have said yes."
The Search for Answers in a Young Brain
Ms Fairbairn first grew concerned when her once "chatty" son began giving curt, three-word answers and had a blank look. An MRI scan in October 2023 revealed shocking atrophy of the frontal lobe, with a consultant comparing it to "looking at the brain of a 70-year-old."
It was later confirmed Andre had frontotemporal dementia, a rare form affecting about one in 20 dementia sufferers, caused by a protein mutation. Ms Fairbairn quit her job as a coach driver to become his full-time carer, helping him with basic tasks like dressing and eating.
She and her husband, Alastair, 62, created precious memories, ticking off a bucket list that included a trip to Shrek’s Adventure! in London and live wrestling. However, by September last year, Andre's mobility declined so rapidly, resulting in falls, that he had to move into a care home.
"He walked in, albeit very slowly, and after a month he was using a wheelchair," Ms Fairbairn recalled. A subsequent infection in December led to hospitalisation and end-of-life care. Andre died at the Priscilla Bacon Lodge hospice in Norwich, but his mother took comfort that his jovial personality remained, responding to nurses with a happy "Whoo".
A Legacy of Hope Against a 'Cruel' Disease
Ms Fairbairn is now backing awareness campaigns, highlighting the injustice of early-onset dementia. It is believed around 50,000 people in England live with the condition, where symptoms begin before 65, but fewer than two-thirds are diagnosed.
"It’s the cruellest disease because there’s no treatment," she said. "There’s nothing to help with the symptoms and you watch, and you grieve, and you lose that person time and time again... With dementia, there’s nothing."
She expressed hope that the donation of Andre's brain to researchers at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge could lead to a treatment to prolong lives. "What we’re hoping is even if it’s not a cure... some sort of treatment that can give them a few more years with a loved one would be just amazing."
Andre's younger brother, Tyler, 23, has so far chosen not to undergo tests for the genetic condition. Andre's funeral will be held at Breckland Crematorium in Norfolk on January 27.
