Early onset Alzheimer's disease occurs when symptoms of the disorder strike people under age 65. It also happens more often to people in their fifties, but can tragically strike victims from 30 to 50. Early onset Alzheimer's affects about five to 10 percent of people suffering from the symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic. The Alzheimer's Association says early onset cases account for 200,000 to 500,000 of the estimated four million Americans who have the disease (as of early 2010).
Disease Progression
There is a perception that early onset Alzheimer's progresses faster in younger victims. The Mayo Clinic points out that this has not been proven. This view may exist because many early onset Alzheimer's patients are sent to nursing homes and other facilities at younger ages. But it may be that their spouses still have to care for a household and handle a career. Older people are usually retired and more often have the time to take longer care of their spouses before sending them to a facility. Also, people with early onset Alzheimer's may die at a young age because they contract the disease at an earlier age. Alzheimer's can last about 10 to 20 years.
Symptoms and Heredity
Signs of Alzheimer's don't necessarily mean you have the disease. Mental difficulties can happen to anyone at anytime if they are under stress or just getting older. One reason to be concerned about early onset Alzheimer's is if you have a parent or sibling who developed Alzheimer's before age 60. There may be a genetic link. See a doctor if you or a loved one has a family history of the disease and there are unusual mental changes.
Memory Loss
Confusion, difficulties in planning daily routines or solving simple tasks, and forgetting important dates, events or places, are among the early symptoms of Alzheimer's. But these signs should be of special concern when they happen to people under age 65. Peculiar changes in personality can indicate early onset Alzheimer's if there is a family history of the disease. However, these symptoms may also be confused with signs of depression. Problems with concentration, some memory problems and a lost of interest in activities once enjoyed are symptoms of both Alzheimer's and depression. However, if memory problems lead to constantly misplacing objects and putting items in strange places, such as in the refrigerator or linen closet, it could indicate early onset Alzheimer's.
Language Problems
Some people may have difficulty continuing a conversation or getting lost in what they were saying. They may repeat themselves or forget the words they are looking for when talking. These troubles may happen to people once in a while, but they could indicate underlying disorders if they are constant and uncharacteristic of the person. Language problems in Alzheimer's patients may lead to social withdrawal because they feel they can no longer communicate with people. There is not much difference in the signs of early onset Alzheimer's and other cases, except that the signals are coming from a person who seems too young to develop Alzheimer's.
