The rise of EARLY DEMENTIA

A growing number of women are experiencing symptoms before retirement age

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Think only the elderly get dementia? Think again.
Young-onset dementia is when brain-related symptoms develop before the age of 65. It's estimated that this affects more than 70,000 people in the UK. Could you spot the warning signs? They may not be obvious, and it's easy to mistake early dementia for something else, but awareness is key for vital diagnosis, treatment and support. Turn the page to get clued up.

We all have forgetful or foggy-mind moments, but usually, they can be chalked up to natural ageing. More seriously, dementia is the umbrella term for symptoms caused by different diseases that damage the brain, affecting memory, problem-solving, language and behaviour.

Dementia is progressive – meaning symptoms get worse over time – and while you're more at risk in your 70s and 80s, research suggests that the number of people with dementia under the age of 65 has increased by 69% in the last decade*.

'It's a common misconception to think of it as just an older person's condition,' says Kieran Winterburn, head of national influencing at Alzheimer's Society. 'It's even more challenging that the first signs of young-onset dementia can be hard to recognise.'

But awareness is growing, partly due to celebrities, such as actor Pauline Quirke and presenter Fiona Phillips, sharing that they've been diagnosed in their early 60s.

MISTAKING THE SIGNS