Early Alzheimer’s can appear from the age of 30 – 07/14/2023 – Equilibrium

Alzheimer’s disease is often thought of as a condition that only affects the elderly. But an estimated 3.9 million people worldwide aged between 30 and 64 are living with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease – a form of dementia in which symptoms appear before age 65.

English journalist and broadcaster Fiona Phillips, 62, recently revealed that she was diagnosed with the disease.

During an interview, Phillips shared that the main symptoms she experienced before her diagnosis were mental fog and anxiety. She also highlighted how different symptoms can be between early and late Alzheimer’s.

First, symptoms begin much earlier – as young as 30 in some rare cases, although the condition is typically diagnosed between the ages of 50 and 64.

And while people with Alzheimer’s often experience memory loss as the first sign of the disease, individuals with dementia praecox tend to have other symptoms – such as difficulty paying attention, less ability to imitate hand gestures and poorer spatial awareness.

Some people with early-onset Alzheimer’s may also experience increased anxiety before diagnosis. This could be due to an awareness of changes taking place without a clear reason as to why they are feeling different.

They may think these behavior changes are temporary, which delays medical evaluation. Health professionals can also misinterpret heightened nervousness as a sign of other health conditions.

While they may have less cognitive impairment at the time of diagnosis, studies have indicated that those living with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease experience more rapid brain changes. This indicates that the condition may be more aggressive than late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. It would also explain why people with early-onset dementia tend to have a life expectancy about two years shorter than those with late-onset dementia.

Research shows that people with early-onset Alzheimer’s are also more aware of changes in brain activity. This can lead to behavioral changes – with the appearance of conditions such as depression in this group.

Within the brain itself, early-onset Alzheimer’s causes chemical changes similar to late-onset Alzheimer’s. But the areas of the brain affected by these chemical changes can be different.

Research has concluded that areas of the brain involved in processing sensory and movement-related information (called the parietal cortex) show the greatest signs of damage early on.

There is also less damage to the hippocampus compared to late-onset Alzheimer’s disease – an area of ​​gray matter important in learning and memory.

Why does it happen?

Risk factors for early-onset Alzheimer’s disease are similar to late-onset ones.

For example, low levels of cardiovascular fitness and lower cognitive ability in early adulthood were associated with an eightfold increased risk of developing early-onset Alzheimer’s. However, we still don’t fully understand all of the factors that influence a person’s chances of getting the disease.

One thing experts agree on is that genetics play a role in about one in ten cases of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. So far, three genes (APP, PSEN1 and PSEN2) have been associated with the disease.

These genes are all related to a toxic protein believed to contribute to Alzheimer’s disease (known as beta-amyloid). When these genes become defective, there is a buildup of amyloid beta, which is linked to the onset of symptoms.

Growing evidence suggests that there may also be a link between a traumatic brain injury and early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

what people can do

In the UK, people diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease may be prescribed medication to help manage their symptoms.

In the United States, two therapies have been approved that can slow the progression of symptoms. However, they have only been tested in people with late-onset Alzheimer’s disease – so it’s still unclear whether they will have an effect there.

People who have a family history of dementia or are concerned about their risk can get genetic testing through a private company. This will confirm the presence of the genes related to the problem. These tests can be performed for those who already have symptoms or for individuals with a family history who want to know their future prognosis.

While it’s not possible to modify your genetics if you’re at higher risk, some research supports the idea that you can fortify your brain against disease through a healthier lifestyle.

One study found that when people genetically predisposed to early-onset Alzheimer’s exercised for more than two and a half hours a week, they scored better on memory tests than those who weren’t physically active.

In addition to being more active, dietary choices may also reduce your risk of young-onset Alzheimer’s. An Italian study revealed that people who consumed high levels of vegetables, dried fruits and chocolate had a lower risk.

*This story was originally published on the website The Conversation and is published here under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article, in English, here.

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Mark Dallas is Associate Professor of Cellular Neuroscience at the University of Reading, UK.