Early-Onset Dementia: Young Adults Can Also Be Affected—Check Warning Signs from Behavioral Changes

The news about Bruce Willis, the legendary Hollywood actor, suffering from dementia and experiencing a decline to the point where he can no longer speak, read, write, or walk normally, has raised public awareness about dementia. Besides occurring in the elderly, early-onset dementia can also affect people under 65 years old. You can observe warning signs through changes in behavior from previous patterns.

What causes early-onset dementia?

We have typically understood dementia as a disease affecting those aged 65 and older, caused by brain abnormalities that progressively reduce brain function. However, working-age adults can also develop early-onset dementia, occurring in individuals aged 30 and above, accounting for up to 7% of all dementia cases.

The causes of early-onset dementia stem from the deterioration of various organs, especially as one ages beyond 40. Organs and endocrine systems, including the heart and brain, gradually decline, particularly in individuals with chronic diseases and risky behaviors such as:

• Having high blood pressure
• High blood cholesterol levels
• Diabetes
• Vascular diseases
• Chronic liver and kidney diseases
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Dementia due to cerebrovascular disease
• Frontotemporal dementia
• Genetic factors from family history
• Heavy smoking
• Regular alcohol consumption
• Lack of exercise
• Sitting all day with little movement
• Stress
• Late sleeping and insufficient rest

These factors accelerate dementia onset. Deficiencies in certain vitamins like B12 and E, exposure to environmental toxins, substance abuse or certain medications, infections such as syphilis or prion diseases like CJD, chronic HIV infection, thyroid dysfunction, enlarged brain ventricles, brain tumors, or traumatic brain injury also increase risk.

Recognizing symptoms of early-onset dementia

Symptoms in early-onset dementia patients are similar to those in age-related dementia, noticeable through behavioral changes such as:

• Loss of short-term memory, inability to remember the way home, forgetting locations, and confusion about one’s whereabouts, making it unsafe to travel alone.
• Inability to perform simple tasks previously manageable, such as calculating change after shopping due to difficulty with addition or subtraction.
• Misusing objects, like pressing the wrong buttons on a TV remote or mobile phone, or not knowing the purpose of certain items.
• Loss of ability to distinguish tastes or smells.
• Inability to bathe independently, refusal to brush teeth, or dressing inappropriately.
• Worsening memory, frequent forgetfulness especially of recent events, forgetting where items are placed, while distant past memories may remain intact.
• Repetitive behaviors, such as watering plants multiple times a day or eating many meals daily.
• Inability to recognize familiar places or remember family members’ names.
• Difficulty making decisions, personality changes including apathy, irritability, possible hallucinations, paranoia, possessiveness, or fears that others intend to steal belongings or inheritance.

These symptoms reduce work efficiency and concentration. Early-onset dementia must be distinguished from other conditions such as depression, stress, psychiatric disorders, vascular or brain tumors, and sleep apnea.

Initially, close relatives may not recognize these as signs of early-onset dementia but notice behavioral changes. These are typical in Alzheimer’s disease, the most common dementia type, caused by death of certain brain cells, reducing neurotransmitter transmission, leading to memory loss, impaired learning, and gradual decline in daily functioning.

How to prevent early-onset dementia

There is currently no cure for early-onset dementia, especially from Alzheimer’s disease. However, symptoms can be alleviated with medication and management to slow progression and maintain the best possible quality of life by avoiding risk factors such as:

• Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol, as these accelerate brain cell deterioration.
• Take precautions against head injuries, such as preventing falls.
• Reduce stress and watch for depression, which promote dementia; engage in activities like meditation, listening to music, gardening, or hobbies to relax.
• Limit high-fat foods and eat a balanced diet with all five food groups, as fatty foods can block blood vessels, causing abnormal blood flow, high blood pressure, or blood clots blocking brain vessels.
• Drink at least eight glasses of water daily.
• Get adequate sleep, at least eight hours per night.
• Exercise regularly for 30 minutes, three to five times a week.
• Have annual health check-ups. If you have chronic conditions, follow treatment plans and take medications consistently, such as controlling blood pressure below 140/90 mmHg, and managing cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

Dementia affects not only patients but also their families and close ones, especially in behavior and emotions. If you notice abnormalities such as confusion about direction or place, or poor decision-making, seek medical evaluation promptly for diagnosis and appropriate treatment or care guidance.

Source:Phyathai Hospital,Mahidol University