Andre Yarham, a young man from Norfolk, became one of Britain’s youngest people to face dementia when he was diagnosed just before his 23rd birthday. Tragically, he passed away at the age of 24 on 27 December, only days after Christmas, at a hospice in Norwich. His story highlights how this cruel disease can strike anyone, regardless of age, and his family hopes sharing it will raise awareness and support research.
The first signs appeared in late 2022, soon after his mother Samantha’s wedding. Andre started showing unusual forgetfulness and changes in behaviour. For instance, he would take the bus for short trips that he normally walked, or head into the city instead of going to a nearby shop. These odd actions prompted his family to seek medical help. Scans at a local hospital revealed that his brain was shrinking abnormally, and specialists at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge confirmed frontotemporal dementia, caused by a rare protein mutation.
The condition progressed alarmingly fast and by September of the following year, Andre moved into a care home where he could still walk, albeit slowly. However, within just a month, he needed a wheelchair full-time. As time went on, he lost the ability to speak, managing only sounds in his final weeks. Despite the rapid decline, Andre’s warm personality shone through until the end – his sense of humour, laughter, and smile remained, bringing some comfort to those around him. His family cared for him at home as long as possible, handling tasks like feeding, but eventually, the demands became too great.
Samantha, now 49, described the diagnosis as a whirlwind of emotions, from anger to deep sadness, especially seeing her son’s life cut short. She emphasised the disease’s brutality, noting that unlike some cancers, there’s no treatment to send dementia into remission. The family found solace in small joys, like Andre’s enduring cheerfulness, but the overall experience was heartbreaking.
In a generous act, Andre’s brain was donated to researchers at Addenbrooke’s Hospital after his death and Samantha believes this could help unravel the mysteries of young onset dementia and potentially give other families more precious time with their loved ones. She urges people to recognise that dementia isn’t just an older person’s illness – early warning signs like sudden forgetfulness or out of character decisions should never be ignored. By understanding these, earlier interventions might make a difference.
This poignant tale serves as a reminder of dementia’s indiscriminate nature and the importance of compassion, support and ongoing research to combat it.
https://www.gbnews.com/health/dementia-sypmtoms-andre-yarham-death