Just curious wondering what is the youngest age of a person to die with AZ or FTD? And when were they diagnosed? We hear all the time that early onset is more rapid and just want to know if there is data to back that up.
Angel, that's a tough question, as with an AD person's death, it's one of the complications that gets the attention, e.g. cause of death pneumonia often with older folks.
As for early onset AD (EOAD) progressing faster, I question it. Those of us diagnosed relatively younger, have a ton of activities that would reveal our dementia, compared to relatively few in many retired persons.
Also it's common in the early stages of studying a disease, the first cases noticed are the worst ones.
If I had to guess based on my intuition, it would be that a larger percentage of EOAD decline more rapidly than a comparable group that was over 65 when diagnosed. I doubt that the percentage would be more than 20%. Just guessing.
Alan
Posts: 2026 | Location?: Littleton, CO | Registered: April 12, 2008
Dear angelb: That is a difficult question for us lay people here.
Perhaps you could get better historical data by going to the forum on this site named, "Questions for the Care Consultant." You will get a response from a social worker from the Alzheimer's Association who may be more accurately knowledgable about your question.
Johanna C.
Posts: 2395 | Location?: USA | Registered: February 20, 2008
When my husband was diagnosed at the age of 36 (8 years ago) the neuropsychologist told us her youngest patient was only 17 when diagnosed. She never told us if and when he passed.
