The UK's youngest known dementia sufferer, Andre Yarham, has died at the age of 24, just two years after being diagnosed with a devastating and rare form of the disease.
A Rapid and Heartbreaking Decline
Andre, from Dereham in Norfolk, passed away on December 27 last year following an infection. His mother, Sam Fairbairn, 49, has revealed that doctors said her son had the brain of a 70-year-old prior to his death.
The first signs emerged in 2022, when Andre began to seem forgetful and would sometimes stare blankly, failing to respond when spoken to. Just a month before his 23rd birthday in 2023, an MRI scan confirmed the shattering diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia, caused by a protein mutation.
This rare form of dementia affects roughly one in twenty people with the condition and led to Andre needing full-time care from his mother, who helped him with bathing, eating, and dressing.
A Family's Tribute and a Gift to Science
Andre's grieving family have paid tribute to their "cheeky lad" with a "heart of gold." In a powerful decision to help others, they have donated his brain to medical research.
"There's not enough awareness of how cruel this disease can be," Sam said. "We made the decision to donate Andre's brain to medical research. If in the future, Andre has been able to help just one more family have a precious few more years with a loved one, that would mean the absolute world."
Andre is among only 0.1% of the UK population diagnosed with a form of dementia under the age of 65. His mother described the diagnosis as a "devastating blow."
The Final Months of a Young Life
After his diagnosis, Andre's speech deteriorated completely, leaving him able only to make noises. The last six months saw a particularly rapid decline. He struggled to move, feed himself, or pick up a cup, becoming increasingly unsteady.
This led to the difficult decision to move him into a nursing home in September. Although he walked into his decorated room, within a month he required a wheelchair and had to be hoisted.
Andre, a former rugby and football player and an avid wrestling fan, had worked at luxury car manufacturer Lotus Cars in Norwich before his symptoms forced him to leave. Last month, an infection led to his hospitalisation and a swift end-of-life decline. He spent his final days at Priscilla Bacon Lodge Hospice before passing away.
His mother said the diagnosis and its consequences were "very tough" on the whole family, including Andre's brother Tyler, 23, and stepfather Alastair, 62.
