Dementia symptoms: The key behaviours that could be signs of early on-set dementia

Which learning disabilities can cause early-onset dementia?

People with Down’s syndrome and other learning disabilities are at an increased risk of developing dementia at a younger age.

While most people with Down’s Syndrome will develop Alzheimer’s-induced dementia, it is not always the case.

It is thought that the link between the two is down to chromosome 21, which most people who have Down’s syndrome have two copies of.

The double copy can trigger an over-development of a protein known as amyloid which can form plaques around the brain cells.

Over time, these plaque deposits can cause significant damage to the frontal lobe which is why dementia is more common in the younger age bracket.

The symptoms can often resemble those associated with frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.