The little-known symptom of early-onset dementia you might notice at work in your 30s

DEMENTIA is often thought of as a condition that only affects old people.

That's hardly surprising, considering one in six people over the age of 80 develop the brain robbing disease.

But younger people are also vulnerable - with almost  worldwide aged 30 to 64 suffering with early-onset Alzheimer’s - a form of dementia.

English journalist Fiona Phillips, 62, recently revealed the heartbreaking news that she’d been diagnosed with it. 

Symptoms usually begin much earlier - as young as 30 in some rare cases, Prof Mark Dallas of neuroscience at the University of Reading, said.

Although it's typically diagnosed much later - between the ages of 50 to 64.

While people with the disease commonly experience memory loss as the first sign of the disease, people with young-onset Alzheimer’s tend to have other symptoms.

This includes a worse attention span, particularly when carrying out familiar tasks, which people might notice while at work.

Sufferers may also find they struggle to mimic hand gestures and notice worsening spatial awareness.

"Some people with young-onset Alzheimer’s may also experience an increase in anxiety," the expert wrote in.

"This may be due to an awareness of the changes occurring, without a clear reason as to why they’re feeling different."

The symptoms can often mask as something more general, like tiredness, which can put people off seeking medical help.

Prof Mark said: "Healthcare professionals may also misinterpret anxiety as a sign of other health conditions."

Research shows that people with young-onset Alzheimer’s are also more aware of the changes in their brain activity. 

The expert added: "This can lead to behavioural changes – with conditions such as depression being prevalent in this group."

Other signs of the condition include:

• memory loss
• difficulty concentrating
• finding it hard to carry out familiar daily tasks, such as getting confused over the correct change when shopping
• struggling to follow a conversation or find the right word
• being confused about time and place
• mood changes

Different types of dementia can affect people differently, and everyone will experience symptoms in their own way.

Two new drugs, named donanemab and lecanemab, have been proven to slow the disease in older people — heralding a new era where it could become treatable.

The potentially game-changing drugs are still in the trial phase, so until it becomes readily available catching the disease early promises the best outcomes.

Do I have dementia?

Experts have devised a simple test that can be used to spot dementia nearly a decade before doctors notice symptoms.

Cambridge University experts say simple quizzes which test basic memory could be used to screen people and start treatment earlier.

Both tests rely on subtle differences that could easily be missed.