Andre Yarham: UK’s ‘youngest dementia patient’ dies at 24, mother speaks out on ‘cruellest’ disease
The UK’s “youngest dementia patient” has died aged 24, leaving his brain to medical researchers in the hopes more can be discovered about the “cruellest” of diseases.
Andre Yarham was 22 when he was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia after his family noticed he was moving and speaking slowly. A subsequent MRI scan showed he had the brain of a 70-year-old.
Tragically, he died on December 27 at a hospice in Norwich.
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Frontotemporal dementia is caused by a protein mutation that progressively damages the brain. It most often affects people aged between 45 and 65 but in rare cases it can affect much younger patients.
There is no cure but treatment can help some symptoms. There is often a genetic link to the disease.
Mr Yarham’s mother, Samantha Fairbairn, said her son was “a cheeky lad with a great sense of humour. He had a heart of gold”.
Her first clue something was seriously wrong was when Mr Yarham became forgetful and at times displayed inappropriate behaviour, BBC reports.
A month before he died, the disease had progressed to the extent that it had stolen his speech and he needed help being fed and bathed
With his physical care requirements so high he had to move into hospice Priscilla Bacon Lodge.
In a moving tribute, Ms Fairbairn, 49, said she felt “a range of emotions, from anger, sadness” for her son.
“One thing it never done until the very, very end was take away his personality, his sense of humour, his laughter and his smile,” she said.
“Dementia is a cruel, cruel disease, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone,” she continued.
“I need people to know how cruel this disease is. He must have been one of the youngest.
“People with cancer, they can have radiotherapy, they can have chemotherapy, and people go into remission and can lead a fruitful, memorable life. With dementia, there’s nothing,” she added.
She explained why the family had decided to donate Mr Yarham’s brain for medical research.
“If in the future, if Andre has been able to help just one more family have a precious few more years with a loved one, that would mean the absolute world.”
