Atypical forms of dementia are being diagnosed more often in people in their 50s and 60s

 Atypical forms of dementia are being diagnosed more often in people in their 50s and 60s

"These conditions show up in people in their 50s and 60s, sometimes even earlier and sometimes a bit later. No one knows whether these conditions are becoming more common or doctors are better at diagnosing them. 

What is clear is that some of the same underlying pathology seen in people with typical Alzheimer’s — amyloid plaque and tau tangles in the brain — is also present in people who have Alzheimer’s with a young age of onset or atypical dementias that affect vision or language or behavior. Some of these atypical dementias are caused by a toxic buildup of other abnormal proteins. These proteins become abnormally shaped or clustered together in ways that distort how the brain processes information. This is true for Alzheimer’s, too.

No treatments are available to slow or stop the progression of these diseases. The few drugs that treat symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s are often prescribed for people with these rarer forms of dementia. The drugs may help with some of the symptoms."

Full story at the Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/atypical-dementias-hit-in-midlife/2020/12/04/eecc15e6-1929-11eb-aeec-b93bcc29a01b_story.html