Young Onset Dementia: A 70-year-old brain at 24. Read how this dangerous disease took away Andre Yarham's life.
- bySherya
- 09 Jan, 2026
Dementia Symptoms at a Young Age: There are some diseases in the world that will send shivers down your spine upon reading or hearing about them. Let us tell you about one such disease.

Dementia Research Brain Donation: Andre Yarham, who lives in Dereham, Norfolk, England, was just 22 years old when his mother, Samantha Fairbairn, noticed worrying changes in his behavior. She began to notice that her son was forgetting small things and that his behavior sometimes seemed unusual for his age. Therefore, she took him to the doctor, and what the doctor said shocked her. Let us tell you what the doctor diagnosed.
What disease did the doctor tell you about?
After examination, doctors diagnosed Andre with frontotemporal dementia. This is a rare form of dementia caused by a specific protein mutation in the brain. This disease rapidly affects memory, as well as behavior, thinking, and speech. Following the diagnosis, brain scans revealed signs of abnormal brain shrinkage. He was subsequently referred to a hospital in Cambridge, where the dementia was confirmed.
Died at the age of 24
Andre Yarman died at the age of 24 from a painful illness. This disease usually affects older people. What was discovered during an MRI was quite shocking. It revealed that his brain had become like that of a 70-year-old. Speaking to the BBC, Andre's mother said it was extremely painful to learn that her son had developed dementia at such a young age. She explained that the disease does not recognize age and that her son was probably one of the youngest patients.
Care difficult
As his illness progressed, it became increasingly difficult for his family to care for him. In September, Andre was moved to a care home, and a few weeks later, he was confined to a wheelchair. About a month before his death, he lost his ability to speak and could only make sounds. However, according to his mother, Andre's smile, humor, and personality remained intact until the final stages of his illness, when he died on December 27th. Before his death, Andre decided to donate his brain for research, hoping to develop better treatments and understanding of the disease in the future. His mother says that if her son's decision can give even one family the chance to spend a few more years with their loved one, it will be worth it.






