Britain’s Youngest Known Dementia Patient Andre Yarham Dies at 24 After Rare Illness
Britain’s youngest known dementia patient, Andre Yarham, has passed away at the age of 24 after a courageous battle with a rare form of early-onset dementia, a condition that dramatically altered his young life and deeply affected his family.
Andre, who was from Dereham in Norfolk, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia caused by a protein mutation just one month before his 23rd birthday. His family first became concerned when they noticed significant changes in his behavior, including unusually slow movement and speech. Over time, these symptoms became more pronounced, prompting further medical evaluation.
Frontotemporal dementia is a rare neurological condition, accounting for a small percentage of dementia cases. Unlike more common forms of the disease, it often affects younger individuals and can lead to changes in personality, behavior, and communication. In Andre’s case, the condition progressed rapidly.
Andre passed away on December 27 while receiving care at a hospice, following complications from an infection. His death has brought immense grief to his family, who have spoken openly about the challenges and heartbreak of watching such a devastating illness take hold at such a young age.
His mother, Sam Fairbairn, 49, remembered Andre as a loving son with a joyful personality and a kind heart. She described him as a cheeky young man with a great sense of humor, someone whose warmth and goodness left a lasting impression on everyone around him.
In an effort to raise awareness and contribute to future research, Sam made the decision to donate Andre’s brain to science. She has spoken about the importance of understanding the many forms dementia can take and how cruel and misunderstood the disease can be, especially when it affects young people.
Andre’s early symptoms reportedly began in 2022, when his family noticed he was becoming increasingly forgetful and appeared distant at times, often responding slowly or not at all when spoken to. In 2023, following an MRI scan, doctors informed the family that Andre’s brain showed characteristics typically seen in someone decades older, confirming the diagnosis of early-onset dementia.
Through their loss, Andre’s family hopes his story will help raise awareness and support research efforts so that other families may gain more time and understanding when facing similar diagnoses. Andre Yarham’s life, though tragically short, continues to have meaning through the knowledge and awareness his journey brings to others.
