Symptoms
Young onset dementia
Many symptoms of young onset dementia are similar to those of late onset dementia, which affects people over 65. However young onset, or early-onset, dementia can also affect people in more unusual ways.
This can make it more difficult for people, loved ones, and doctors to recognise and diagnose what is causing the symptoms.
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Symptoms of young onset Alzheimer's disease
While the symptoms of young onset Alzheimer’s disease are similar to those of late onset Alzheimer’s, they can be harder to recognise. This is because memory loss is not always one of the first symptoms in younger people.
Symptoms can include:
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Trouble finding the right words (aphasia) and following conversations.
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Changes in personality and behaviour that may be subtle at first.
People may become low in mood, more irritable, lose their confidence or show less interest in activities they used to enjoy.
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People may become unsteady, have problems moving around or develop tremors or stiffness.
Symptoms will get worse over time and become more noticeable.
Other symptoms can include:
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Memory problems which can start to interfere with everyday life.
This may include forgetting a work meeting or recent events that would normally be remembered, or repeating questions.
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Confusion and disorientation. People may become confused more easily, get lost or lose track of time.
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Visual problems, difficulty recognising objects and judging speed or distance.
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Daily tasks that involve planning and problem solving like paying bills, cooking and driving may become difficult to do.
Below you can hear about from Beth about her dad's symptoms.
No two people experience dementia the same. If you are worried about any of the symptoms mentioned on this page, talk to your doctor.
Symptoms of young onset vascular dementia
Vascular dementia can cause some similar symptoms to Alzheimer’s disease, but speech and movement problems can be more common too.
Symptoms can come on suddenly after a stroke or develop more slowly over time.
Symptoms may include:
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Finding it harder to carry out tasks and follow instructions that they used to find simple.
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Struggling to find and use right words and slurred speech.
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Experiencing low mood, agitation and anger.
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Become unsteady on their feet, or experiencing changes to the way they walk.
Symptoms of frontotemporal dementia (FTD)
As there are several different types of FTD, symptoms can vary depending on which parts of the frontal and temporal lobes are affected.
Symptoms of FTD can include:
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Changes to behaviour, such as being inappropriate, or a change in sense of humour.
Someone may also become impulsive or develop obsessions, such as spending lots of money or gambling.
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Stiff or slowed bodily movement, weakness and twitches or cramps.
Some people with FTD may have difficulties with swallowing.
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Finding it more difficult to understand concepts, such as that money is used to buy things.
Someone may have difficulty recognising familiar objects, such as knowing that the remote controls the TV, or the kettle is used to boil water.
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Speech may become slurred or hesitant.
It may be challenging to find and use the correct words, or harder to follow conversations.
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Changes in emotions and behaviour. This may include expressing feelings differently or finding it harder to understand how other people feel.
Some people may become less motivated, lose interest in things they used to enjoy, or stop looking after themselves as well as before. They may not notice these changes in themselves.
Symptoms of dementia with Lewy bodies
DLB is closely related to Parkinson’s disease. The build-up of Lewy bodies is also found in Parkinson’s. That’s why symptoms like movement problems and tremors can also occur in DLB.
Symptoms of DLB may include:
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Problems carrying out daily activities, or periods of being less alert of their surroundings.
These periods can be hard to predict and change on an hourly or daily basis.
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Movement problems such as shakiness and tremors, slowness of movement or stiffness.
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Seeing, hearing and believing things that are not really there (hallucinations).
These are very realistic for the person experiencing them.
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Having false beliefs without evidence (delusions).
People with DLB may believe that others are out to harm them, or that their home is not their own.
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Finding it difficult to find their way around places that used to be familiar.
Memory loss can be less common in DLB compared to other types of dementia.
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Mood changes, including depression, anxiety and a lack of motivation. Some people may also experience agitation or restlessness.
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Walking and balance problems, such as unsteadiness or being more prone to falling.
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Vivid dreams and disrupted sleep where they move around a lot and thrash out their arms and legs.
Poor sleep quality is more common in DLB than in other types of dementia.
Symptoms of posterior cortical atrophy
Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) usually begins by affecting a person’s vision. It causes symptoms that make moving around and carrying out daily tasks difficult.
Symptoms of PCA that affect someone’s vision may include:
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Not being able to see what is right in front of them, and bumping into things more frequently.
People may also still see an image of an object after looking away, or not be able to see more than one object at a time.
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Changes in ability to judge depth and distance.
For example, a black object or puddle may appear to be a hole in the floor or it may be difficult to find and reach for a door handle.
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Perceiving colours and shapes differently. For example, items may have an unusual colour or shapes may appear distorted.
Other symptoms of PCA may include:
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Literacy, numeracy and reading skills can become more challenging.
For example, people may find it difficult to work out simple calculations and find spelling and writing hard.
Certain fonts can become more challenging to read. Words and paragraphs can become jumbled up and harder to understand.
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People may find it more challenging to complete tasks that need coordination, such as getting dressed.
Everyday objects such as kitchen utensils or a remote control can be difficult to use
Below you can hear about from Samantha about her husband Edward's symptoms, and how they progressed over time.
No two people experience dementia the same. If you are worried about any of the symptoms mentioned on this page, talk to your doctor.
Symptoms of Parkinson's disease dementia
Over half of people with Parkinson’s go on to develop dementia, usually about 10 years after their diagnosis. This is called Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD).
The main symptoms of PDD are similar to DLB.
Symptoms of PDD include:
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Memory and thinking problems.
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Problems with alertness and staying awake.
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Disturbed sleep, including lots of moving around in sleep.
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Seeing things that are not really there (hallucinations).
For more information about Parkinson’s disease you can visit the Parkinson’s UK website.
How do symptoms progress?
Diseases like Alzheimer’s are progressive. This means the symptoms get worse over time and people will require more support with their everyday lives.
Does young onset dementia progress faster?
It is difficult to know whether young onset dementia progresses faster than late onset dementia. There is some evidence that this is the case. But every person’s experience of the disease is different, including how fast or slow it progresses.
Difficulties with diagnosis in younger people may mean that they are diagnosed later, making their progression appear faster.
Below you can hear about from Melissa about her mum Wendy, whose symptoms started in her 50s.
No two people experience dementia the same. If you are worried about any of the symptoms mentioned on this page, talk to your doctor.
Research into better and earlier ways to detect diseases that cause dementia is essential to improve early diagnosis and get people the support that they need.
Under specific circumstances, you may be offered a lumbar puncture. If a doctor suspects someone may have young onset dementia, they may use a lumbar puncture to diagnose the cause of their dementia, or to rule out other conditions. A lumbar puncture, sometimes called a spinal “tap”, can be used to diagnose many types of dementia, including young onset dementia.
During a lumbar puncture, a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is taken from the lower back.
CSF contains biomarkers, short for biological markers. They can be signs of normal or abnormal bodily processes, infections of disease.
The sample of CSF can then be analysed to look for proteins that are associated with dementia. The types of proteins doctors are looking for may include harmful versions of the amyloid and tau proteins.
Downloads
Dementia information
This booklet aims to give an introduction to young onset dementia. It’s for anyone who might be worried about themselves or somebody else.
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PDF, 3.8 MB, 17 pages
Order health information
Alzheimer's Research UK has a wide range of information about dementia. Order booklets or download them from our online form.
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This information was updated in March 2026 and is due for review in March 2028. It was written by Alzheimer's Research UK's Information Services team with input from lay and expert reviewers. Please get in touch if you'd like a referenced copy.
This information is produced with support from The Perfume Shop who had no input into the content.
