It isn’t just older people who are affected by dementia. Although age is the biggest risk factor, the condition can occur at almost any stage in someone’s life.
What is young onset dementia?
Dementia is described as ‘young onset’ when symptoms appear before the age of 65.
You may have previously heard the condition be called ‘early onset’ dementia. However, that particular phrasing was often confused with the ‘early stages’ of the condition, therefore, it is no longer used by professionals.
As of September 2022, Dementia UK estimated that there are 70,800 people living with young onset dementia in the UK. That means, of everyone living with dementia, 7.5% of them developed symptoms before the age of 65. This estimation may be lower than reality, as it takes those with young onset dementia twice as long to receive a diagnosis. To learn more about the prevalence of young onset dementia, visit Dementia UK’s ‘Young onset dementia: facts and figures’ page.
How can we help?
Our team of Young Onset Dementia Advisors (YODAs) offer face-to-face, telephone, and email support for people living with young onset dementia (where symptoms develop before the age of 65) in Oxfordshire and their family members.
They offer practical and emotional support and guidance not just about dementia, but also around financial and legal matters, employment, benefits and planning for the future. In addition, they offer tailored support to help people who are newly diagnosed to adapt to the changes that they may be experiencing and offer emotional support in coming to terms with a life-changing diagnosis.
Complementing this advice is a busy programme of monthly face-to-face and online groups. These provide valuable opportunities to meet and make new friends, relax and enjoy the company of others.
How to contact the young onset team
The Young Dementia Oxfordshire team send monthly emails to keep members up to date about upcoming events and groups and there is a private Facebook community group, exclusively for people in Oxfordshire.
For staff member contact details visit our teams page.
This specialist service is part of Dementia Oxfordshire. You can contact the team via their email address: youngonset@dementiaoxfordshire.org.uk
To gain access to the full support of our young onset service, please find and complete our referral form by clicking on the button below.
Young onset support outside Oxfordshire
If someone living with dementia outside Oxfordshire is looking for support, please contact Dementia UK’s Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline to see what help is available in your area.
This service was previously provided through a sub-contract with Dementia UK. However, as of 1st April 2024, service returned in-house. A review of this service is provided separately, you can read this on our impact page.
