Usually we think of Alzheimer's disease (AD) as affecting seniors who are on up in years. It's less well-known that 10 percent of people with Alzheimers have the early-onset variety.
Early-onset Alzheimers can strike before 65 years of age. Of the more than 5 million people in the United States, almost 4 percent have early-onset Alzheimers.
Adults who have Down syndrome are prone to early-onset Alzheimers, with symptoms beginning to show in the middle or late 40s, or early 50s. Less commonly, early-onset AD can be seen in people who are only 30-40 years old.
Other people who get early-onset Alzheimer's disease often also have a genetic defect on chromosome 14. This is not the case for people with late-onset Alzheimers.
It can run in families. If either of your parents, or any of your grandparents, for instance, had early-onset Alzheimer's disease, you may be at risk.
Mutations in three genes can be involved. The three genes are the APP, PSEN 1, and PSEN 2. Early-onset Alzheimers is also often linked with myoclonus, which is a form of spasm and muscle twitching.
A diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer's disease can be difficult to determine since each person is affected differently, and can have a variety of symptoms. Symptoms can be wrongly believed to be stress-related, for instance.
It appears at a time of life when things are busy and responsibilities are heavy, with work, raising children and possibly caring for parents with health problems.
Because early-onset Alzheimers is often misdiagnosed, people suffering from AD can run into added troubles. They may lose their jobs, relationships may be damaged, since their medical condition has not been properly identified.
Loss of income because of not being able to function at work compounds the difficulties. Family may not be understanding or supportive about what is going on. Medical benefits and programs for social support are less available for someone with early-onset Alzheimers.
Do you think you or someone you love may have early-onset Alzheimers?
You can see a doctor who specializes in AD for a medical exam, brain imaging, cognitive tests, and a neurological exam. Go to your appointment with notes, concerning symptoms being experienced. While no one test is definitive, this evaluation can be very helpful.
If you're dealing with financial issues, you can look into early retirement from work, and find out whether you might be eligible for Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security benefits. Don't try to handle this on your own. Talk to your family, and take advantage of any resources open to you.
You can contact the Alzheimer's Association and find out if there is a chapter in your area. Call them at 1.800.272.3900 through their 24/7 Helpline, or visit their website at http://www.alz.org/
Sources:
Types of Alzheimer's Disease. WebMD.com. Retrieved Jan. 28, 2014.
http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/guide/alzheimers-types
Younger/Early Onset Alzheimer's & Dementia. ALZ.org. Retrieved Jan. 28, 2014.
http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_early_onset.asp
Early-onset Alzheimer's: When symptoms begin before age 65. MayoClinic.org. Retrieved Jan. 28, 2014.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/in-dept...
Visit Jody's website at http://www.ncubator.ca
Reviewed January 29, 2014
by Michele Blacksberg RN