A man who was diagnosed with dementia in his 40s has revealed that a slight change in his work performance was the initial indicator that his brain health was deteriorating.
Peter Alexander, currently 56, never expected to be diagnosed with the memory-impairing disorder when he visited a neurologist in 2018.
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He underwent a scan, which on January 14th that year revealed the heartbreaking cause behind his symptoms — frontotemporal dementia, a condition often identified in patients of an earlier age.
"It was said that it was no longer safe for me to work due to my diminished judgment and I was losing my ability to self-censor, so it was quite a big adjustment to make," he said.
Frontotemporal dementia is a rare type of the condition, accounting for approximately one-thirtieth of cases in the UK.
It gets its name from the areas of the brain it damages – the frontal and temporal lobes – which are responsible for personality and behaviour, language, and the ability to plan and organize.
Patients often notice unusual changes in their personalities, which can manifest as making thoughtless, outrageous comments or becoming more disorganized than normal.
In contrast to other types of dementia, the memory issues typically linked to this condition are most commonly found in its later stages.
This indicates that often, individuals endure symptoms for an extended period before being formally diagnosed.
"I may not always be able to express it in the same manner, but I'm still the same person I was; inside, I'm still the same Peter,' he said.'
Mr. Alexander, speaking in a YouTube video, also spoke about how he had lost his filter, which had led to him using more colloquialisms that he called "crudities", to include swear words,
He noted that people often find his current stance surprising and even harsh, saying: “People just say “Peter, why are you saying that now if you wouldn't have said that in the past?” but there is this disinhibition, which some find inexplicable and outright impolite.”
‘For me, it’s a new freedom and liberty that I’ve never experienced before when I access those thoughts.’
‘They might be embarrassed by me, don’t be embarrassed, it’s just who I am. It’s the raw, unfiltered Peter.’
He also mentioned how his dementia had reduced his ability to perform mathematical additions, but conversely, had also provided his voice with a more melodic tone, a change he attributed to his brain relying on different areas to form words and sentences.
‘“Because, once, there might be a feeling that the ‘logical’ side of the brain is in decline and failing, things become opened up on the other side of the brain,” he said.
‘Rhythm and music are becoming more flexible, allowing us to communicate in a more melodic manner.’
Mr. Alexander is now working to combat stigmatization around the disease and wants others to be aware that dementia is not a condition that solely affects seniors.
As part of this mission, Mr. Alexander participated in a documentary called "Hear Our Voice," which focuses on individuals experiencing young-onset dementia — those diagnosed with the condition before the age of 65.
Frontotemporal dementia occurs when the development of the brain is negatively impacted by the accumulation of several types of harmful proteins within nerve cells.
The loss of nerve cells ultimately causes the brain to stop functioning correctly, ultimately leading to death.
Researchers continue to investigate the underlying causes of this toxic protein accumulation, and while it appears to be linked to genetic factors in approximately one-third of cases, the exact mechanisms involved are not yet fully understood.
The average lifetime for a person with frontotemporal dementia is approximately 8-10 years from the time when their symptoms first appear, despite healthcare professionals noting that this time period can differ significantly among individuals.
It is irreversible and degenerative, indicating it will worsen with time.
Although there is currently no cure, early detection is crucial as medications and treatments can effectively manage the symptoms.
Frontotemporal dementia is one of the primary causes of young-onset dementia.
According to the most recent data, approximately 71,000 individuals in Britain are currently living with early-onset dementia, representing roughly 7.5 percent of all dementia diagnoses.
There was a 69 per cent increase in the figure recorded in 2014.
Researchers still cannot pinpoint the exact causes of this increase, but they speculate it might be linked to the same underlying factors contributing to rising incidence across all age groups.
This encompasses issues such as an aging population, rising obesity rates, unhealthy diets, and reduced physical activity.
Dementia impacts approximately one million individuals in the UK and is caused by a range of factors, including Alzheimer's disease and decreased blood circulation to the brain following a stroke, commonly referred to as vascular dementia.
Experts estimate that the annual economic burden of dementia on the UK totals around £42 billion, with families shouldering a significant portion of this cost.
A growing elderly population is expected to lead to a dramatic increase in the costs – which encompassing lost earnings of unpaid caregivers – to nearly 120 billion pounds over the next 15 years.
Approximately 944,000 individuals in the United Kingdom are believed to be living with dementia, whereas the estimated number in the United States is around 7 million.
Cognitive decline, problem-solving difficulties, and language issues are prevalent early signs of the condition, gradually deteriorating over time.
An Alzheimer's Research UK analysis found that 74,261 people died from dementia in 2022, surpassing the previous year's total of 69,178, thus making it the deadliest disease in the country.
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