Britain’s ‘youngest dementia patient’ dies and leaves brain to science

A man described as the UK’s youngest dementia patient has died aged just 24. Andre Yarham was given the shock diagnosis a month before his 23rd birthday after his family noticed he was moving and speaking slowly.

He had frontotemporal dementia (FTD), an uncommon type that causes problems with behaviour and language. Dementia typically affects people aged over 65, but FTD often starts at a younger age, with most cases diagnosed between 45 and 65.

Andre, of Dereham in Norfolk, donated his brain to scientific research. His mum Samantha Fairbairn said she hoped this would help experts find out more about this “cruellest” of diseases.

She added: “If in the future that can help one family get a few more years with their loved ones then, that would be worth it.”

Symptoms of FTD include personality and behaviour changes, language problems, getting distracted easily and memory problems.

Ms Fairbairn, 49, noticed in November 2022 that her son was becoming forgetful and displaying inappropriate behaviour, the BBC reported.

Scans showed unusual shrinking of his brain, leading to the diagnosis.

Ms Fairbairn said she felt “a range of emotions, from anger, sadness —sadness for him”.

She added: “One thing it never done until the very, very end was take away his personality, his sense of humour, his laughter and his smile.”

There is currently no cure for FTD but treatments to manage symptoms include medicines, therapies and support groups.

Andre died at the in a hospice on December 27 following an infection.