Dementia In Younger People

In the United Kingdom, about 15000 younger people (under the age of 65) are estimated to have some form of dementia.

However, this figure is thought by some to be a gross under-estimation ... and therein lies part of the problem. How can we assess the scope of the suffering if we don't have the resources necessary to accurately diagnose dementia in younger people, let alone treat it appropriately?

First, dementia is not just an affliction of the elderly. It can strike at any age and is becoming more and more common in people in their 40's and 50's. Yet many dementia care services have a minimum age requirement of 65! I kid you not.

Second, if you do get access to some sort of care, it very often is inappropriate because the responsibilities we have in middle age are usually very different to those we have in later years. I'm talking about mortgages, dependent children, other relatives, work and financial obligations etc.

Many younger sufferers feel like the proverbial "square peg in a round hole" ... and this only fuels their fear, frustration ... and anger.

Probably the most glaring injustice (aside from that which stems from ignorance) is the perhaps more understandable failure of medical professionals to accurately diagnose the problem in the first place ... then start appropriate treatment as soon as possible. Many people are mis-diagnosed with depression. Early, appropriate treatment is considered absolutely key in the fight against preventable suffering.

And what initiatives exist beyond traditional medical protocols with respect to prevention? Does anyone talk of the possibility of links between dementia and the way we eat ... or our sedentary, over-indulgent lifestyles? The emphasis, regrettably, appears solely focused on symptom management rather than root cause and strategies for prevention.

So what are the early signs?

Well, memory loss is a critical indicator. Specifically, forgetting the names of everyday objects, or the people that you know. See why so much misunderstanding is prevalent? How do we distinguish between this and "inadvertant forgetfullness" ... something which strikes all of us at all ages?

Then there's difficulty driving, forgetting to do obvious things that previously were done quite habitually. An erosion of our control ... and of our sense of control.

And when we first start suspecting that something is not quite right, where do we put the fear? Naturally, many of us would prefer to suffer in private. But we still may sense the diplomacy in others.

Another added wrinkle appears to be that many people are unaware that all dementia is not Alzheimers. In fact, only about one third of documented cases in younger people are Alzheimers. There are a multitude of other forms ... vascular dementia, fronto-temporal dementia, even alcohol-related impairment ... as well as rarer forms such as Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease. These lessor-known, more obscure variants account for about 20% of the cases seen in younger people.

So, unpalatable though it may be, the medical community simply does not yet have the resources and experience to handle these unique problems with the sensitivity that so obviously is needed.

Let's just hope it is a lack of experience and exposure, rather than stigma, that is preventing younger sufferers from getting the care they need.

And let's consider for a moment those kind souls who are quietly caring for the thousands afflicted with dementia ... patiently, in their own quiet way.