We need to start talking about young-onset dementia

Janet Wyatt is the director of JW Care Group, one of the only care providers in the country specialising in young-onset dementia. She shares her story with us and the wisdom she’s gleaned through over 30 years devoted to dementia sufferers.

“I’ve met people as young as 30 suffering from dementia,” Janet shares. “It’s a heartbreaking reality, and yet we’re not talking about it.” 

According to the NHS, dementia is “a syndrome associated with an ongoing decline of brain functioning”. A common misunderstanding is that dementia is something just the elderly suffer from. But Janet asserts that dementia is a growing issue among younger people, with increasing numbers showing signs of early-onset dementia from as young as 30 or 40. “That said,” she adds, “research shows that some forms of dementia are preventable,” a statement that is both devastating and hopeful. Janet is motivated by these two emotions, eager to relieve the devastation and improve the quality of life for young sufferers of dementia, while also being a voice of hope for the future.