Young onset Dementia: Understanding your diagnosis Free booklet
Young onset Dementia: Understanding your diagnosis Free booklet available to help you to understand and deal with this diagnosis. The Alzheimer’s society have released this great free booklet which is very helpful.
They say this booklet is for anyone under the age of 65 who has recently been told they have dementia. It will help you understand more about dementia in people under 65 (‘young-onset dementia’) and the treatments, support and services that are available. It includes information about how you can live as well as possible with dementia and about making plans for the future.
Young-onset dementia: Understanding your diagnosis includes information on a range of issues, including how dementia can affect a person’s relationships, making communication easier, driving and talking to employers.
It covers;
- Coping with your diagnosis
- What is young-onset dementia?
- How does dementia affect younger people?
- Living well
- Treatment and care
- Work, money and legal matters
- Services and support
It answers questions such as What is young-onset dementia?
Young-onset dementia is the name given to dementia that is diagnosed in people before they are 65 years old. People who have young-onset dementia are often described as ‘younger people with dementia. Young-onset dementia is the term used for people under the age of 65 because people traditionally retired at this age. It isn’t for any biological reason.
And What causes dementia in younger people?
Dementia is caused by diseases in the brain. Dementia in younger people tends to be caused by the same range of diseases that cause the condition in people over 65. However, certain kinds of dementia are more common in younger people than in older people (covered also in the booklet).
Causes of dementia in younger people include:
Alzheimer’s disease
This is caused by proteins building up in the brain to form structures called ‘plaques’ and ‘tangles’. These disrupt the way the brain works and cause brain cells to die. People with Alzheimer’s disease also have a shortage of some important chemicals in their brain.
Vascular dementia
This is caused by too little blood getting to the brain, because of blood vessels that have become damaged by disease. Without enough blood, brain cells can’t get enough oxygen and eventually die.
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD)
FTD is caused by damage to two areas in the brain: the frontal and temporal lobes. It can cause different problems depending on where the damage is.
The Alzheimer’s society developed the booklet in collaboration with younger people with dementia, whose voices are heard throughout the booklet. This is very informative. Click here to get the free booklet.