Early-onset dementia, in which patients receive a devastating diagnosis before the age of 65, is on the rise in Britain.
The condition, which accounts for almost one in 10 of all dementia diagnoses, has come into the spotlight after actress Pauline Quirke announced she is stepping back from professional duties due to the memory-robbing disorder.
The Birds Of A Feather star, now 65, was diagnosed with dementia in 2021, when she was just 61 years old.
But she is not the only famous face affected by early-onset dementia, as others include ITV’s Fiona Phillips, author Sir Terry Pratchett and actor Robin Williams.
And it’s not just celebrities – experts have noted a rise in the number of young people in the UK suffering from the disease.
The latest figures suggest that almost 71,000 people in Britain are currently living with early-onset dementia, accounting for around 7.5 per cent of all dementia diagnoses.
This is an increase of 69 percent compared to the figure recorded in 2014.
Scientists are not yet sure of the factors behind the increase, but believe it may be due to the same factors that cause an increase in the condition at all ages.
Journalist and broadcaster Fiona Phillips, who presented ITV’s GMTV between 1997 and 2008, was told she had dementia in 2022. She was just 62 at the time.
This includes an aging population, increased obesity, poor diet and increased awareness of the condition leading to further diagnoses.
Journalist and broadcaster Fiona Phillips, who presented ITV’s GMTV (now Good Morning Britain) between 1997 and 2008, was told she had dementia in 2022.
Phillips, 62 at the time and a mother of two, was told her dementia was caused by Alzheimer’s disease, the leading cause of dementia, accounting for about six in 10 cases nationwide.
Like early-onset dementia, cases of Alzheimer’s among those under 65 are rare, accounting for approximately one in 20 cases.
Phillips said he suffered mental confusion and anxiety in the months before his diagnosis and noted that his mother, father, grandparents and uncle also suffered from the illness.
Around one in 10 cases of early-onset dementia are thought to be the result of genetics, according to research.
Speaking shortly after her diagnosis, Phillips said she had anticipated the diagnosis would hit her when she was in her 80s, not when she was 60.
She has suggested that the early hours involved in her 11-year stint presenting breakfast television could be one of the reasons she developed Alzheimer’s at such a young age.
Some research suggests this may have its advantages, as studies have found that people with a genetic risk for Alzheimer’s are slightly more likely to describe themselves as “morning people.”
Phillips underwent a drug trial in an attempt to curb the symptoms of her illness. In 2023, the host said the treatment seemed to be working.

Sir Terry Pratchett was another affected by dementia before the age of 65, being diagnosed with a rare type called posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) at age 59.
He also noted that one of the biggest changes since his diagnosis is the loss of his “filter” during conversations.
‘I come out with some fun stuff. “I’ve become more honest with people, which I don’t see as a negative thing,” she previously said.
“No one has reacted badly and most of the time I congratulate people and say things that I would have thought but that have not escaped me.”
The late Sir Terry Pratchett is another high-profile figure affected by dementia before the age of 65, diagnosed with a rare type called posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) at the age of 59.
Unlike the more famous form of memory theft, PCA primarily affects the brain’s ability to process visual information, as the damage occurs in the back of the brain rather than the center of the organ.
Technically, PDA sufferers can still have perfect vision, but the brain has difficulty processing information.
People with this condition may have difficulty reading, spelling, or detecting objects on similar colored backgrounds, such as a white plate on a white tablecloth.
PCA is estimated to account for five per cent of Alzheimer’s cases diagnosed in Britain and is most commonly diagnosed in people under 65 years of age.
In its later stages, PCA also begins to affect thinking, memory, and language in ways similar to more typical Alzheimer’s.

Oscar-winning actor and comedian Robin Williams is a particularly tragic case of early-onset dementia. Here he appears with his widow Susan Schneider in 2012 in New York.
Sir Terry, celebrated author of the satirical fantasy book series Discworld, described his condition as “The Humbug” and was acclaimed for speaking openly about living with dementia, becoming a patron of the charity Alzheimer’s Research UK.
He died at home in 2015, “with his cat sleeping in his bed, surrounded by his family,” according to his editor.
Oscar-winning actor and comedian Robin Williams is a particularly tragic case of early-onset dementia.
Williams committed suicide in 2014, aged just 63, after beginning to suffer hallucinations and delusions believed to be caused by Lewy body dementia.
This type of dementia represents a minority of dementia cases, approximately one in 10.
It is caused by small clumps of proteins, called Lewy bodies, that appear on nerve cells in the brain and affect their ability to function properly.
This process can cause visual and auditory hallucinations like those Williams experienced, as well as general confusion, tremors, fainting, depression and anxiety, and violent movements.
As with Alzheimer’s disease, patients may also experience problems with understanding, thinking, memory, and judgment.

Hilary Evans-Newton, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said in a statement on Tuesday: “We are saddened to hear of Pauline’s diagnosis and send her our best wishes.”
Experts are still trying to figure out why Lewy body dementia develops in some people and whether there is a risk that it runs in families.
Williams’ widow, Susan Schneider Williams, said learning of her husband’s dementia diagnosis after his death was a “relief” after years of trying to figure out what was wrong.
‘I was relieved it had a name. Robin and I had been through this experience together, actually being chased by an invisible monster.’
Williams was known to be struggling with this condition during filming, and Night in the Museum director Shawn Levy recalled: “Robin had difficulty remembering lines and matching the right words to the performance.
‘Robin would call me to tell me if it’s usable, if any of this is usable. I saw their morale crumble. I saw a guy who wasn’t himself and thought that was unforgivable.
When a postmortem examination finally revealed the extent that the Lewy bodies had in Williams’ brain, doctors reported that they were shocked to learn that he could even “walk or move.”
The prognosis for dementia with Lewy bodies varies depending on the patient, but the average survival time is five to seven years after diagnosis.
Like other forms of dementia, it is progressive, meaning it worsens over time and many patients will eventually need help caring for themselves.

But they can also be a sign of dementia, the memory-robbing disease that affects almost 1 million Britons and 7 million Americans.

It is currently believed that around 900,000 Britons suffer from this memory-robbing disorder. But scientists at University College London estimate this figure will rise to 1.7 million within two decades as people live longer. It marks a 40 percent increase from the previous forecast in 2017.
Dementia is estimated to affect one million people in the UK and has a variety of causes, such as Alzheimer’s or reduced blood flow to the brain after a stroke.
The disease is currently incurable, but early diagnosis is considered essential for better outcomes, as treatments can combat symptoms and sometimes slow progression.
A recent analysis by the Alzheimer’s Society estimated that the total annual cost of dementia in the UK is £42 billion a year, with families hardest hit.
An aging population means these costs – which include lost income from unpaid carers – will soar to £90 billion over the next 15 years.
Around 944,000 people in the UK are thought to be living with dementia, while in the US the figure is around 7 million.
Memory problems, thinking and reasoning difficulties, and language problems are common early symptoms of the condition, which then worsen over time.
A separate analysis by Alzheimer’s Research UK found that 74,261 people died from dementia in 2022 compared to 69,178 the previous year, making it the biggest cause of death in the country.