22-Year-Old Man Diagnosed with Early Onset Dementia Becomes Youngest in UK
In a heartbreaking turn of events, a 22-year-old man from Norwich, Norfolk, England has been diagnosed with early onset dementia, making him the youngest person in the United Kingdom to have the condition. Andre Yarham’s mother, Sam Fairborn, shared the devastating news, revealing that her son’s symptoms first appeared in November 2022. He began experiencing slower movements and speech, accompanied by a vacant stare on his face. After undergoing an MRI scan in October, doctors made the shocking discovery that Yarham had dementia.
The diagnosis came as a blow to Fairborn and her family. Yarham’s frontal lobe, an area of the brain that typically shrinks with age, showed signs of atrophy, a contributing factor to dementia. To further understand the cause of his brain disease, Yarham is currently undergoing genome testing.
Adding to the complexity of his condition, Yarham was also diagnosed with autism, a suspicion his mother had held for some time. Fairborn had previously noticed that her son scored highly on an autism test. However, the waiting list for an official diagnosis was five to seven years. In order to expedite the process, a family member generously paid for them to go private. Despite this additional diagnosis, Fairborn knew that something else was still not quite right with her son.
Once an outgoing and talkative individual, Yarham’s personality has drastically changed. He used to be an avid wrestling fan and actively participated in rugby and football during his school years. He even secured a job at luxury car manufacturer Lotus Cars, where he worked on replacing materials in car ceilings. However, after just six months of employment, Yarham abruptly left without being able to provide an explanation to his family. It was during this time that Fairborn realized her son must be grappling with something beyond autism.
While caring for Yarham, Fairborn has had to make significant adjustments to her life. She gave up her career as a driver to become a full-time caregiver for her son. From choosing his clothes to assisting him with bathing and preparing meals, Fairborn’s role is now all-encompassing. Yarham’s cognitive decline has affected his ability to remember simple tasks, such as why he entered a shop.
Despite the devastating prognosis, Yarham’s family remains hopeful. They are eagerly awaiting the results of the genome test, as it may provide insight into the cause of his dementia and potentially open doors for him to participate in clinical trials. While there is currently no cure for dementia, any opportunity to contribute to research and trials is seen as a chance to help others in the future.
Doctors have informed Fairborn that Yarham’s chances of improvement are slim, and his life expectancy is likely to be shorter than average. However, the family is determined to make the most of the time they have together. They have set up a GoFundMe page to create a bucket list for Yarham, which includes experiences like visiting the Harry Potter Studio Tour and Shrek’s Adventure in London. The outpouring of support has been heartwarming, with donations pouring in to help them achieve their goal.
While Yarham’s journey is undoubtedly challenging, his family’s resilience and determination shine through. They are not only focused on their own situation but also on how their participation in clinical trials and research may benefit others facing similar circumstances. Their story serves as a reminder of the importance of compassion, understanding, and the pursuit of knowledge in the face of adversity.
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