The youngest person diagnosed with dementia has died

The man’s mother, Samantha Fairbairn, said the decision to donate was made in the hope of helping to better understand what she called “one of the most relentless” diseases. According to Dementia UK, frontotemporal dementia is rare and affects around one in twenty people diagnosed with dementia.

Fairbairn noticed the first alarming changes in her son’s behavior shortly after her wedding to Andre’s stepfather, Alastair, in November 2022. The young man became more absent-minded and sometimes behaved inappropriately. An examination at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital revealed an unusual decrease in brain volume, and the final diagnosis was made at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.

Fairbairn admitted that she experienced strong and conflicting feelings – from rage and deep grief to constant longing for her son. A month before his death, Andre lost the ability to speak and could only make isolated sounds. At the same time, according to his mother, he could sometimes be heard laughing.

Up to a point, he continued to go for walks, but over time he required constant care, including feeding, which the family provided themselves until it became too physically difficult.

Dementia UK also notes that frontotemporal dementia is often hereditary, so sufferers may have relatives with the same diagnosis. Genetic testing can determine whether a person is at risk.