Recognizing and Responding to Young-Onset Dementia

While dementia is a neurodegenerative disease commonly associated with adults older than age 65, it can also impact younger individuals.¹ Young-onset dementia (YOD) is a rare condition, affecting approximately 11 out of every 100,000 individuals between the ages of 30 and 64 each year.^2,3 An estimated 6% to 9% of all individuals living with dementia worldwide are younger than age 65.⁴

The incidence of YOD is similar in men and women, though early symptoms often differ — men are more likely to show irritability, while women tend to experience more pronounced memory loss. Recognizing YOD can be difficult because the condition is rarely suspected in younger adults; it is often mistaken for other illnesses, such as depression, hormone deficiencies, or psychiatric problems.^4-8 YOD is typically diagnosed after an average delay of 4.4 years — about 11.2 months longer than the average time to diagnose older-onset dementia (OOD) .^1,3,9 To prevent delays, oral health professionals need to recognize YOD’s early signs and symptoms.

Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Risk Factors

YOD symptoms vary depending on the subtype, with the most common being young-onset Alzheimer disease, frontotemporal dementia, vascular dementia, and Lewy body dementia.^10-12 Across all subtypes, early symptoms commonly involve changes in behavior, language, and personality, along with challenges in managing thoughts, emotions, and actions.^1,12,13

Read Full Article

* References and figures can be found in the original article via the link above.