Nobody wants to get Alzheimer’s disease. Most of us think of this dreaded condition as something that happens only when a person is elderly, but this is not the case. Alzheimer’s disease can also strike younger people aged 30 to 64. When someone younger than 65 years of age is diagnosed with the condition it is called early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. It may also be called younger-onset Alzheimer’s. Unfortunately, the number of younger people being diagnosed is on the rise.

When someone younger than 65 years of age is diagnosed with the condition it is called early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Unfortunately, the number of younger people being diagnosed is on the rise.

WHAT IS EARLY-ONSET ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE?

Early-onset, or younger-onset, Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that affects your memory, thinking, and behavior. It is generally characterized by the same symptoms that appear in late-onset disease, including. Some of the early signs include:

• Forgetfulness
• Trouble finding the right word
• Difficulty with basic problem-solving, such as paying bills or following a familiar recipe
• Getting lost in familiar places
• Vision problems
• Asking the same questions over and over
• Trouble completing daily tasks
• Losing things
• Poor judgment
• Social isolation
• Changes in mood or personality

As the disease progresses, symptoms typically become more severe, and it eventually interferes with daily life. Signs of advanced disease include:

• Severe memory loss
• Increased confusion
• Marked moodiness and changes in behavior
• Growing suspicion about family, friends, and caregivers
• Difficulty speaking or swallowing
• Trouble walking

Despite these similarities, there are some differences between early-onset and late-onset Alzheimer’s. A 2019 study shows that early-onset Alzheimer’s is typically more aggressive, has a greater genetic component, is more commonly seen with traumatic brain injuries, has greater delays in diagnosis, and involves less memory impairment but more cognitive issues.

HOW COMMON IS EARLY-ONSET ALZHEIMER’S?

A frightening trend is the younger age at which Alzheimer’s is emerging. A growing number of younger Americans are being diagnosed with either early-onset dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. In 2017, approximately 131,000 individuals aged 30 to 64 received a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, according to the Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Index. This represents an alarming 200% increase from 2013-2017 in this age group.

Other research estimates that 5%-6% of all people with Alzheimer’s disease have the early-onset form. Considering about 6.5 million Americans are living with the condition, this would put the number of those with early-onset Alzheimer’s closer to 325,000-390,000.

Women are more likely to be impacted by the condition, with females making up 58% of people with early-onset Alzheimer’s, according to the BCBS Health Index mentioned earlier. And the average age of a person living with either early-onset Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia is 49. This is one of the reasons why it is so important to be aware of the early signs of the disease.