Dementia strikes early

by Caroline Smith

April 10, 2008

DEMENTIA is not just a disease affecting the elderly, says Andrew Watt, whose father was diagnosed six years ago, at the age of 55, and is now in full-time nursing care.

Mr Watt was eighteen at the time, and the impact on his life was profound.

 “It happened at an already confusing time in my life,” he explained, “when I was establishing support bases of my own.” 

Mr Watt initially observed a sense of bewilderment in his father, followed by a difficulty in erforming everyday tasks.

“Simple things just started to leave him,” he said. “I was massively ignorant about dementia at the time.

“I was angry that there wasn’t much information out there.”

The demand for facts has been crucial in developing a handbook, Understanding Younger

Onset Dementia, released on April 8, targeting both the medical profession and families coping with the disease.

Frank Schaper, from Alzheimer’s Australia, who unveiled the publication, acknowledged Younger Onset Dementia- which affects about 1000 West Australian - presents different problems to those seen in elderly dementia patients.

In particular, sufferers, who can be as young as 35, are often mid career, and raising a family when diagnosed. Symptoms, such as social withdrawal and memory loss, may at first be attributed to the stresses experienced in everyday life.

“To be diagnosed is very traumatic,” Mr Schaper said. “Sufferers have to start thinking about their ability to work and how it will impact on their families.”

The book can be bought from Alzheimer’s Australia on 02 6254 4233.