However, many people are unlike Sandy and do not have the support of a loved one. For these people, early-onset Alzheimer’s can be very frightening. Additionally, the lack of discussion concerning early-onset Alzheimer’s can complicate a diagnosis. Therefore, it is important to realize all of the dangers surrounding early-onset Alzheimer’s. The five scary facts below about early-onset Alzheimer’s might help you understand who is at risk and how to stay vigilant.
5. Early-onset Alzheimer’s symptoms can appear as early as age 30.
Beginning to see signs of Alzheimer’s at 57 must have been hard for Sandy, but imagine seeing the signs of Alzheimer’s in your 30s. Being aware of the symptoms is half the battle. Most people in their 30s are not thinking about a disease like Alzheimer’s because it is usually diagnosed in the elderly. In order to stay watchful, most people seek a physician’s help if they notice the following symptoms:
- memory loss resulting in life disruptions;
- difficulty planning or problem solving;
- challenges completing familiar tasks at home, work, or leisure;
- confusion about time and place;
- difficulty with understanding visual images or spatial relationships;
- new problems with speaking or writing;
- inability to retrace steps after losing something;
- diminished or bad judgment;
- withdrawing from social or work activities; and
- mood or personality shifts.
Some diseases are classified as genetic in nature; early-onset Alzheimer’s is one of those diseases. If someone inherits a genetic mutation from a parent that causes early-onset Alzheimer’s, then he or she could develop it. In fact, there is a 50/50 chance that the child of a parent with early-onset Alzheimer’s gene mutations will develop the disease. Whether the mutation is inherited is a good indicator that early-onset Alzheimer’s will develop. Specifically, genetic mutations on chromosomes 1, 14, and 21 are responsible for early-onset Alzheimer’s development. It is recommended that people whose parents developed early-onset Alzheimer’s have genetic testing done to see if they have an increased risk of disease development, although a genetic test cannot predict if they will develop the disease for sure.
3. Early-onset Alzheimer’s can require a caregiver's assistance.
Even Sandy, who had her husband’s help, needed a part-time caregiver to aid in her daily activities. A caregiver's assistance was necessary because of how early-onset Alzheimer’s debilitated her. According to Sandy’s story, her caregiver provides physical and emotional support. Likewise, many people with early-onset Alzheimer’s decide they need the additional help a caregiver provides with changing family roles and daily care.
However, caregivers also add to the financial burden associated with early-onset Alzheimer’s. On the other hand, being unable to hire a caregiver and appointing a family member as caregiver instead can be physically and emotionally draining on the family. Either way, there is a cost of caregiving associated with early-onset Alzheimer’s.
2. Early-onset Alzheimer’s can impact the basic functions of a mid-life adult.
When someone is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, he or she might be in the prime of his or her life. For example, people with early-onset Alzheimer’s might still have a job, dependent children, a spouse who works, elderly parents who need care or big financial commitments, like home or car payments. While Alzheimer’s disease could begin with symptoms like memory loss, eventually it affects sufferers’ ability to perform basic tasks.
Mid-life commitments are often unique to early-onset Alzheimer’s patients because they are at different stages of their lives than elderly Alzheimer’s patients. Because of these commitments, people with early-onset Alzheimer’s have different struggles with which to cope. These struggles usually change the family dynamic significantly and often result in the loss of basic faculties and functions. Sandy, for example, suffers from an autonomic dysfunction that impairs involuntary bodily functions.
1. Early-onset Alzheimer’s has no fixed cause.
Although it is thought that mutations in specific genes are responsible for early-onset Alzheimer’s, doctors and scientists still are not sure how this type of dementia is caused. The only thing scientists really understand about early-onset and common Alzheimer’s is that it takes place over a long period of time due to a complicated series of events in the brain. Also, early-onset Alzheimer’s and common Alzheimer’s most likely involve a blend of genetic, lifestyle and environmental components.
Whether genetic contributors have been identified, paying attention to environment and lifestyle factors could help in prevention. For example, currently scientists are interested in the connection between Alzheimer’s development and vascular/metabolic conditions like heart disease. Therefore, plenty of vitamin-rich foods and exercise can be helpful in early-onset Alzheimer’s prevention. However, because doctors and scientists are still searching for early-onset Alzheimer’s causes, prevention is not an exact science, either.
Confronting Early-onset Alzheimer’s
If you are like most people, the thought of developing early-onset Alzheimer’s is upsetting because it could impair you during the best years of your life. Still, there is hope. For instance, early diagnosis could help maintain your quality of life for longer than you initially thought possible. Additionally, there are drugs that can help slow the development of early-onset Alzheimer’s.
While the facts about early-onset Alzheimer’s might be terrifying, being diagnosed with the disease does not mean your life is over. In fact, for many people with early-onset Alzheimer’s, social engagement can help stall the advancement of the disease. Continuing with social and work life engagements can be helpful to those diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, so it is often recommended that patients try to keep their spirits high, even in the face of mounting adversity.