Andre Yarham, believed to be the UK’s youngest dementia patient, has died at the age of 24 after a battle with a rare and aggressive form of the disease.
Andre, from Dereham, passed away on December 27 at Priscilla Bacon Lodge Hospice, just days after Christmas. He was diagnosed at 22 with frontotemporal dementia, a rare condition caused by a protein mutation that affects only a small fraction of dementia patients.
His family first became concerned when they noticed changes in his movement, speech, and awareness. An MRI scan revealed that Andre’s brain had aged rapidly, resembling that of a 70-year-old, shortly before his 23rd birthday.
Paying tribute, his mother, Sam Fairburn, described him as having “a heart of gold” and shared that the family decided to donate his brain to medical research to help advance understanding of the disease.
“There’s not enough awareness of how cruel this disease can be,” she said. “There are different types of dementia, different symptoms, and different behaviours. If Andre can help even one more family have a precious few more years with a loved one, that would mean the absolute world.”
Andre’s condition worsened quickly in his final months. He lost his ability to speak, struggled with movement, and required full-time care before moving into a nursing home. In his last weeks, he was transferred to the hospice, where he died peacefully.
A vibrant young man, Andre loved wrestling, football, and video games, and had previously worked for luxury car manufacturer Lotus in Norwich, but had to leave due to his declining health.
His death places him among the smallest percentage of people in the UK diagnosed with dementia before age 65. His family is urging the public to seek medical advice early if they notice concerning changes in loved ones, emphasizing that early detection can make a difference.
