Dementia is known to affect people as young as 40s – what are the signs of early onset?

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Dementia is known to affect some people as young as in their 40s. This is known as early-onset Alzheimer’s. What are the early warning symptoms to spot?

Vision problems are said to be the first warning symptom.

This can make judging distance, speed, or distances more difficult, and the affected person may have trouble with recognising objects.

Secondly, aphasia can develop; this is when the person has difficulty finding the right words to communicate what they want to say.

Another symptom of early-onset Alzheimer’s is when there has been a shift in personality and behaviour.

These changes can be subtle at first, but people with the brain condition may become low in mood, irritable, less confident, and show less interest in activities they once loved.

What causes early-onset Alzheimer’s?

“In the vast majority of cases, the cause is still unclear,” said Alzheimer’s Research UK.

However, it’s likely to be combination of lifestyle and genetic factors.

Risk factors for developing early-onset Alzheimer’s:

  • Smoking
  • Drinking alcohol
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Unhealthy diet
  • High cholesterol
  • High blood sugar.

Other early symptoms may include:

Increased confusion

Reduced concentration

Personality or behaviour changes

Apathy and withdrawal or depression

Loss of ability to do everyday tasks.

Statistics from the NHS show one in 14 people over the age of 65 have dementia, with the condition affecting one in six people over the age of 80.

There are five more common types of dementia, and these are Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementia and mixed dementia.

The condition can also affect people under the age of 65, with approximately 42,000 people in the UK living with young onset dementia according to Dementia UK.

Can I reduce my risk of Alzheimer’s?

As the exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is still unknown, there’s no certain way to prevent the condition.

But a healthy lifestyle can help reduce your risk.

Cardiovascular disease has been linked with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.

You may therefore be able to reduce your risk of developing these conditions – as well as other serious problems, such as strokes and heart attacks – by taking steps to improve your cardiovascular health, says the NHS.

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