Family of man, 24, diagnosed with young dementia reveal first symptoms they noticed before disease took his life
Topics: Dementia, Health, Mental Health, UK News, Parenting
Poppy Bilderbeck
Featured Image Credit: This Morning/ITV
Topics: Dementia, Health, Mental Health, UK News, Parenting
Andre Yarham, 24, passed away over Christmas after being diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and his family is now speaking out in a bid to raise awareness.
Shortly before his 23rd birthday, Andre Yarham, from Norfolk in the UK, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
Frontotemporal dementia is one of the less common types of dementia and 'covers a range of different conditions that can affect personality, behaviour and language,' according to Alzheimer's Society.
And Andre's family has since opened up about how his FTD impacted him and the very first symptoms they noticed.
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Samantha Fairbairn, Andre's mother, told the BBC she first started noticing changes in her son's behavior in November 2022, later realising they had been symptoms of FTD.
His mum also stated that he started becoming forgetful and when he was spoken to, would sometimes appear blank faced, while other times he'd completely ignore a person talking to him as though he hadn't heard.
Indeed, Alzheimer's Society explains the 'first noticeable symptoms for a person with FTD will be changes to their personality and behaviour, or difficulties with language' and 'sometimes it can involve both'.
"This is very different from the early symptoms of more common types of dementia," it adds.
Alzheimer's Society continues: "For example, in Alzheimer’s disease, early changes are often problems with short-term memory. Many people with FTD don’t have a significant problem with their memory during the early stage of their condition."
When Andre sought medical advice, unusual shrinking of his brain was discovered before he was ultimately diagnosed with dementia.
FTD 'affects everyone differently', but similarly to most forms of dementia, symptoms do get progressively worse over time.
Andre ended up moving into a care home in September 2025, able to walk when he was first admitted but his health soon deteriorated and a month later he had to use a wheelchair.
A month before he passed away, Andre is reported as losing the ability to speak, however, Samantha explained you 'could hear him laugh'.
The mom reflected: "One thing it never done until the very, very end was take away his personality, his sense of humour, his laughter and his smile."
Andre sadly passed away on December 27 and his family are speaking out in a bid to educate people just 'how cruel [dementia] is'.
Andre's brain has also since been donated to researchers, his family hopeful it could reveal more about dementia and how to prevent it alongside find a cure.
Samantha resolved: "Dementia is a cruel, cruel disease. And I wouldn't wish it on anyone. [...] If in the future that can help one family get a few more years with their loved ones then, that would be worth it."
A tribute page for Andre Yarham is also raising donations for The Maltings (FitzRoy) 'who looked after Andre so well' in his honor.
If you've been affected by any of the issues in this article and would like to speak with someone in confidence, the Alzheimer’s Association has a 24/7 helpline you can call on 800.272.3900. Alternatively there are other ways to contact the organization via their website.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact GrieveWell on (734) 975-0238, or email [email protected].