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Struggling at work and experiencing a sudden drop in productivity could be an early warning sign of early-onset dementia, surfacing more than a decade before a clinical diagnosis is made.
Early-onset dementia occurs when the condition develops in individuals under the age of 65, significantly impacting their professional and personal lives, often without any clear initial cause.
Because medical professionals do not typically screen younger demographics for cognitive decline, these patients often face prolonged wait times before receiving an official diagnosis.
However, a study conducted by researchers in Finland suggests that monitoring professional performance and changes in earnings could help identify the condition up to 15 years earlier than current diagnostic methods permit.
The research, which tracked nearly 800 early-onset dementia patients and 7,000 healthy individuals over a 12-year period, revealed a measurable decline in income among those who later developed the disease.
On average, individuals with early-onset dementia earned $13,800 less per year than their healthy peers starting a decade and a half before their formal diagnosis. Over the course of the study, this productivity drop resulted in an estimated loss of roughly $86,000 in total wages per patient.
Dr. Eino Solje, a neurologist who led the research, explained the connection between early symptoms and professional capability. He stated: "Early-onset dementia affects people during their most productive years and is associated with a decreased ability to work, increased unemployment and leaving jobs sooner than planned.
"These changes can reduce household income and contribute to broader economic impact. Our study found an association between reduced work productivity and early-onset dementia up to 15 years before diagnosis."
The study, published in the journal Neurology, broke down the data by specific types of dementia to see how quickly symptoms impacted earnings. For individuals dealing with early-onset Alzheimer's disease, lower earnings became noticeable six years before their official diagnosis.
Meanwhile, those affected by frontotemporal dementia showed a decrease in earnings starting 11 years prior to diagnosis. Though the data shows a clear pattern, researchers note that lower wages do not conclusively prove a person has dementia, as other external factors could also cause a drop in career performance.
Many people facing early-onset dementia report that their symptoms first manifest in the workplace. Common signs include difficulty remembering scheduled appointments, struggling to perform routine tasks that they have handled successfully for years, and finding it hard to concentrate or follow ordinary conversations.
As the condition progresses into later stages, individuals may experience severe mood swings, confusion regarding time and location, and uncharacteristic suspicion toward friends and family members.
An estimated 200,000 Americans currently live with early-onset dementia, and public health data indicates that this number is climbing. Health insurance claims for the condition surged by 200 percent between 2013 and 2017.
While the exact causes of early-onset dementia remain unclear, scientists note that genetics play a role, with about one in ten individuals carrying genes that elevate their risk.
Additional risk factors include a history of a brain injury from a stroke or heavy alcohol use. While there is no cure for the condition, medications are available that can help slow its progression.
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A leading dementia specialist has outlined five key early warning signs of early-onset dementia that go beyond the memory lapses most people associate with the condition.
Early-onset dementia (also known as younger-onset dementia), refers to dementia that develops before the age of 65, affecting people in their 30, 40s, and 50s.
The condition, which refers to a range of symptoms caused by various brain-impairing diseases, can include issues with problem-solving, language, and changes in behavior that typically worsen over time.
Those affected may also have problems with movement, balance, and coordination, the Alzheimer's society shared.
Professor June Andrews, a dementia authority and writer, told MailOnline that while memory loss is often the hallmark of dementia in older adults, early-onset dementia is “different in nature".
She explained that the “most pronounced symptom” can vary based on a person’s “lifestyle and responsibilities,” identifying five common indicators of the condition that people should watch for.
While occasional forgetfulness is common and can often be linked to menopause in women, it is not always a sign of dementia.
However, Andrews said that persistent difficulties could indicate a problem: “This could look like continually having difficulty understanding instructions or completing assignments, much like when you’re sleep deprived, but all the time.”
She added that if simple tasks that were once easy now consistently take longer to complete, it could also be an early sign of dementia.
Another red flag, according to the professor, is suddenly struggling with numbers or mental calculations.
She noted that while numeracy skills vary from person to person, and some professions require more numerical skills than others, a decline could indicate early-onset dementia.
“For instance, a mathematician with young-onset dementia may still be better at math than his doctor, but he might have lost some of his mental numeracy,” she explained,
"But, just like forgetting words, suddenly being unable to do basic mental maths can be an early sign of the disease," she added.
Professor Andrews also highlighted that people with frontotemporal dementia - a type affecting the brain’s frontal lobe - may begin swearing more frequently or making inappropriate comments without realizing it.
Those affected “increasingly lose the ability to discriminate between what is and isn’t acceptable to say,” she said, explaining that this could include swearing in front of children or making rude remarks.
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Skipping major steps in daily routines is another sign to watch for. Professor Andrews explained: “When you’re getting ready for work, there’s a certain order to the steps in which you do things, whether that’s getting out of bed, getting dressed, brushing your teeth or making breakfast.”
However, those experiencing cognitive processing issues “may start to miss steps out or get them in the wrong order,” with some people even being spotted outdoors in their pajamas, she noted.
This decline in cognitive processing can also affect work life, as meeting deadlines and managing multiple tasks becomes “really hard” for those living with the condition.
The health professional emphasized that dementia symptoms can vary widely between individuals: “Each person is different.”
If you or someone you care about is concerned about dementia, she advises making an appointment with your local healthcare provider.
A man who was diagnosed with early-onset dementia has revealed a warning sign that happens pretty often.
Fraser, a 41-year-old Australian teacher and researcher, was diagnosed with early-onset dementia, a condition most commonly linked to older adults, per GB News.
But in rare cases, like his, it strikes younger people too.
Fraser is now spending his time creating YouTube videos, with one featuring 21 raw, candid observations about life with dementia before the age of 65.
His journey began in his late 30s, during a low-stress lifestyle shift from suburban living to rural tranquility.
“I sort of put everything down to being stressed initially, and then I moved from suburbia down to the countryside. Lifestyle and everything got a lot better," he said.
But relief wasn’t coming, despite the improved environment: “After a while, I noticed that my stress and anxiety had gone, the issues that I was experiencing with my memory were still present.”
One terrifying moment was when Fraser genuinely thought his daughter had disappeared.
He later discovered she had gone to the cinema - something she’d plainly told him many times before.
That moment, and many like it, pushed Fraser to seek answers.
What followed was a diagnosis that shattered every expectation of what dementia “should” look like.
In a deeply moving video, Fraser lays out 21 raw observations about life with the disease - details that go far beyond forgetting names or misplacing keys.
He explains that language is one of the first things to be affected. “Most evenings you will have difficulty speaking,” he shared, noting how even basic communication can become a struggle by the end of the day.
It’s not just about memory loss. Dementia, Fraser says, warps your personality.
He’s noticed himself becoming more selfish, less reliable, and increasingly anxious. “You will get anxious and depressed and need help getting through it.
But, reducing stress will have a bigger impact than you think,” he said. Research backs him up - stress has been linked to a 24% higher risk of developing dementia.
Experts aren’t sure exactly why, but it may be tied to stress triggering depression, itself a potential warning sign of cognitive decline.
Fraser describes days when his brain feels like it’s in a haze. “A fog just comes over your brain and you just can't really focus on things very well, and you're in a haze,” he said.
He also shared how mundane tasks - like turning off the shower or planning his day - have become complicated. And while you might expect a diagnosis like this to spark spiritual reflection, Fraser’s experience was the opposite.
“You will not turn to God or spend your days thinking about the meaning of life,” he wrote, adding that he doesn’t think about death and isn’t afraid of it either.
Instead, Fraser is focused on the here and now - spending more time with loved ones and taking trips when he can.
His diagnosis has forced him to slow down and re-prioritize what matters most. “Some months you will have less foggy days and you will learn new things easier than you thought.
"You will be certain you have it and certain you do not have it,” he noted, capturing the strange duality of certainty and doubt that can accompany a long diagnostic journey.
Experts agree that diagnosing early-onset dementia can be tricky. “The misunderstanding that dementia is a disease of older adults leaves people with young-onset dementia fighting to be heard,” said Molly Murray from the University of West Scotland, per the Daily Mail.
She also pointed out that rarer types of dementia can present with atypical symptoms, which often get missed, further delaying diagnosis.
A man who was diagnosed with early-onset dementia has opened up about his condition, and the signs his partner noticed early on.
Jim Rogers, a 58-year-old British expat living in Australia, had his entire world change after his phone rang during a visit to his cardiologist.
"She was like: 'Can you put it on silent?' And I had this blank where I couldn't even work it out," Jim told ABC News.
That fleeting lapse in a simple task immediately raised red flags for his doctor. "And it was she who said to me: 'Are you experiencing problems like this?'" Jim recalled.
That brief exchange ultimately led to a diagnosis that would change everything - early-onset dementia.
Originally from the UK and working in Australia's house renovation sector, Jim had been juggling a busy schedule when subtle symptoms began to surface.
Though he initially attributed his forgetfulness and mental lapses to work-related stress, others around him were picking up on signs that something more serious might be going on.
His colleagues grew concerned, and at home, his partner Tyler noticed troubling shifts in his behavior.
“I think I was having symptoms for a couple of years until I actually got my diagnosis,” Jim reflected. Despite these early warning signs, it wasn’t until the cardiologist’s referral to a memory clinic that the full picture began to emerge.
“They analyse all sorts of things about the way you perceive information, they sent me for brain scans, they do all sorts of stuff,” he explained.
The comprehensive testing revealed that Jim had likely been living with undiagnosed symptoms for years. A consultation with a neurologist confirmed what he and Tyler feared: early-onset dementia.
The diagnosis came as a devastating shock. "I looked at Ty, and he was clearly very upset, and so I knew it was heavy, but I didn't know much about Alzheimer's," Jim said. "I just thought it was an old person's disease."
Since then, Jim has made it his mission to raise awareness about the often-overlooked reality of young-onset dementia.
His personal journey is now being highlighted just as Australia has approved a new drug, Kisunla, for early-stage Alzheimer's disease.
While the treatment offers a glimmer of hope, experts caution that only 10 to 20 percent of dementia sufferers may be eligible.
Experts agree that diagnosing early-onset dementia can be tricky. “The misunderstanding that dementia is a disease of older adults leaves people with young-onset dementia fighting to be heard,” said Molly Murray from the University of West Scotland, per the Daily Mail.
She also pointed out that rarer types of dementia can present with atypical symptoms, which often get missed, further delaying diagnosis.
A man who started to experience early-onset Alzheimer's in his 30s has opened up about the first symptoms he had before being diagnosed.
Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia, which is caused by the buildup of proteins in the form of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain, which causes cells to die over time and the brain to shrink, per the Mayo Clinic.
Around 6.9 million people in the US over the age of 65 live with the progressive condition, which affects memory and a person's ability to do everyday tasks, with over 70% of patients being older than 75.
While it is rare to get it at a young age, the NHS estimates that around one in every 13 people with Alzheimer's disease is under the age of 65.
Fraser, a dad from Australia who is now 41 years old, has opened up on his YouTube channel about his experiences with the degenerative condition, which first started developing in his 30s.
Although he was only diagnosed 10 months ago, he revealed that he'd ben experiencing symptoms years before then.
See the video below:
He explained: "So I got diagnosed eight months ago, and I think my symptoms probably started about two [to] two-and-a-half years before that.
"It's funny because I don't remember what my symptoms really were initially, all I remember was having some pretty big memory flaws like I remember I was sitting down to watch a movie once and my partner's gone, 'yeah, we watched that like a month ago'."
He revealed that despite rewatching the entire movie, he had "no memory of watching it whatsoever," despite not watching many movies at the time, adding: "So it was a bit concerning, that was."
Fraser revealed that he'd experienced similar occurrences of memory loss, but began to worry when his cognition was affected.
"At some point, though, I started having some issues with my cognition more generally, and I think that was more getting closer to the diagnosis, where I noticed that," he explained.
"It wasn't until even probably just a few months before the diagnosis, I noticed that I was having issues with just thinking, being able to think deeply. I find that I have more sort of surface level thinking, more shallow thinking."
He revealed that his memory struggles began to affect him remembering details people had told him, including a terrifying time when he began to panic when he was unable to reach his teenage daughter on the phone when she had previously told him she was going to the movie theater, a conversation which he had forgotten they'd had.
"I remember once, this is early on, I remember my daughter had told me numerous times throughout the day that she'd go to the movies that night and it would be sort of quite late with a friend, and it came to night time, and I started freaking out, thinking, 'where's my daughter?', I was generally freaking out," he explained.
"I was driving to the nearby town trying to see from other friends, if she was with [them], if they've heard from her. And it got to a point where I was about to ring the police, like I was that concerned.
"I'd been trying to call her, trying to phone, trying to message her, and just not getting through to her at all. So yeah, really freaking out. And then she ends up calling me, saying, like, 'Hey, Dad, I've just been in the movies. Remember, I told you?'"
He revealed that the family has since implemented a system where his teenage children will text him to let him know where they are going, even if they have previously spoken to him about it, so that he is able to look at his messages to remind him where they are if he becomes worried.
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Cases of Alzheimer's before the age of 65 are categorized as early-onset and while medication is available to help improve symptoms, there is no cure.
The early symptoms can include forgetting recent events or conversations, while more advanced stages of the disease will lead to serious memory loss and the ability to do everyday tasks being affected.
In advanced stages, the "loss of brain function can cause dehydration, poor nutrition or infection", which can result in death, per the Mayo Clinic.
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