The family of a 24-year-old man believed to be Britain's youngest dementia sufferer have made an extraordinary donation to medical science following his tragic death over the Christmas period.
A Heartbreaking Diagnosis at 22
Andre Yarham, from Dereham in Norfolk, began showing significant changes in behaviour shortly after his 22nd birthday. His mother, Sam Fairbairn, 49, noticed his movements slowing and his speech becoming slurred.
He was later diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a cruel form of the disease that attacks the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. Devastatingly, scans revealed his brain had deteriorated to a state typically seen in a 70-year-old.
"Andre was a cheeky lad with a great sense of humour. He had a heart of gold," Sam said in an emotional tribute. "There's not enough awareness of how cruel this disease can be."
A Rapid and Tragic Decline
Andre received his official diagnosis just before his 23rd birthday. His decline was rapid and heart-wrenching for his family. He lost his speech entirely, eventually communicating only through noises.
"The last six months was when we started to see a very rapid decline," Sam explained. "He was moving less and less. Andre was struggling to feed himself, pick up a cup, becoming very unsteady."
By the beginning of September, the difficult decision was made to move him into a nursing home. Although he walked into his room, within a month he was in a wheelchair and had to be hoisted.
The avid wrestling fan, who played rugby and football at school, fell ill with an infection over Christmas. He sadly passed away on 27 December, the day after Boxing Day.
A Legacy of Hope Through Donation
In a remarkable act of selflessness, Andre's family have chosen to donate his brain to scientific research. They hope this contribution will accelerate the fight against FTD and spare other families similar anguish.
"We made the decision to donate Andre's brain to medical research," Sam stated. "If in the future, Andre has been able to help just one more family have a precious few more years with a loved one, that would mean the absolute world."
His brain has been handed over to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, a world-leading centre for neuroscience within the NHS. Andre's case is exceptionally rare; FTD usually affects people between 40 and 60, and he was among just 0.1% of people diagnosed with dementia under the age of 65. His condition was caused by a specific protein mutation.
Ahead of his funeral on 27 January, his mother hopes to begin fundraising efforts to raise awareness of FTD and support other families battling the disease. Their gesture turns profound grief into a potential beacon of hope for future research.
