Early-onset of dementia in young people of productive age is not common, but this is precisely why any worrying signs are often overlooked. Experts explain.
In the US, an estimated 175,000 people have the condition, accounting for roughly 3% of all dementia cases nationwide.
Dementia is primarily a disease that threatens older people, but according to newer data, 5% of cases involve people of productive age.
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A review of 95 international surveys found that nearly four million people worldwide experience early-onset dementia manifesting between the ages of 30-64.
Essentially this means that the onset of dementia at a young age is rare, but that does not mean that we should not ignore the fact that it can manifest itself early, supports the neurologist of the Mayo clinic Dr David Knopman, who specializes in dementia.
Because dementia at a young age is so unusual, according to Dr Knopman, most doctors – including neurologists – have little or no experience in its diagnosis.
And since dementia is usually associated with aging, it is natural that memory problems at younger ages are attributed to other conditions that are more common in their age.
According to an article by Dr Knopman published in JAMA Neurology any symptoms of memory loss at young ages tend to be attributed to depression or anxiety, which is not unreasonable.
That is why the expert pointed out that some worrying symptoms that persist should not be ignored, and unnoticed.
Are there, for example, complaints about the perception that go beyond memory gaps, but are related to thinking, judgment and learning?
In the latest review, researchers at Maastricht University’s Dementia Study Centre led by Dr Hendriks tried to estimate the number of dementia sufferers early start before 60 years.
Analysis of the data showed that there are about 119 cases of early-onset dementia per 100,000 people worldwide, which means that 3.9 million people live with the disease.
Based on the prevalence of dementia internationally, the early onset rate is 5% according to Dr Knopman.
Given that, Hendriks and colleagues at Maastricht University’s Alzheimer Center Limburg in the Netherlands wanted to get clearer figures on just how many people are living with young-onset dementia.
Dr Hendriks’ team found that dementia was rare at the ages of 30-34 – almost one case per 100,000. In the over-60s the prevalence of the disease was 77 per 100,000.
Unfortunately, the rarity of the disease at young ages has the effect of being undiagnosed, with an average period of 4.5 years until diagnosis compared to under three years among older adults with dementia.
“We see that the first symptoms in young people are usually not the symptoms you would expect when you think of dementia,” Hendriks said. “Instead of memory impairment, young people more often present with changes in behavior or emotions, or sometimes language problems.”
In addition to the lack of experience of doctors, Dr Hendriks points out yet another factor that makes diagnosing dementia difficult. According to the expert instead of discounting memory young people can often have changes in behavior, emotion or sometimes also in speech.
These are symptoms that can turn diagnosis in the wrong direction, not only in depression but also in burnout syndrome or relationship problems.
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