This is an article at Fisher Center for Alz Research which summarizes that which I (and many of us) have learned the experiential way. That younger onset victims often tend to have symptoms that aren't as notably memory based as is typical in older onset patients.
Memory is almost always a piece of it, but not necessarily the area of greatest deficit.
(Although I know we've been stressing all along that AD, whatever it's form, is not just about memory decline, it's about an across-the-board cognitive decline.)
Quotes from article: "early-onset Alzheimer’s, a form of Alzheimer’s that typically occurs before age 60" "late-onset Alzheimer’s that typically strikes after age 65"
So, do the authors believe that AD that occurs between ages 61 and 64 is ON TIME???
Researchers please stay away from the age thing! It only impedes diagnosis!!! Like we dont already know that around here!
Not said but should be: Younger onset AD (working age) can also be seen as difficulty at work. Repeated firings or new onset incompetence with established working skills.
Before Dx DW was fired from 6 different jobs in a year and a half. I am bumping into some of her co-workers from that time and ONLY NOW do they tell me some of the things she was doing and of course she was showing all the symptoms. . . . She couldn't explain her problems at work. Not that I would have recognized it back then, but if I had known the whole story I probably would not have yelled at her as much for her 'new onset stupidity'.
Just a guess here--haven't read the article. When they say younger onset occurs under age 60, perhaps they are referring to the familial variant, where scientists have identified specific genes that, when present, cause the disease. My husband was dx at 60, but as the disease progressed (mainly due to the moderate rate of progression instead of rapidly) his neuro said he has the later-onset version (as opposed to familial EOAD) that just appeared at a younger age.
What Marilyn says might be the explanation. It may also be true though, that these variants which don't initially take the shape of "classic" AD may be more apt to have their onset before 60 (even though they are not familial.) Posterior Cortical Atrophy (aka Benson's Syndrome, which is Jeff's specific Dx,) typically begins to effect people in their mid-50s.