Young onset dementia: enhancing the diagnostic process and post-diagnosis support

Young onset dementia, which comprises a group of neurodegenerative conditions, affects adults aged under 65 years and has significant adverse effects on their lives and those of their families. Early recognition of symptoms and diagnosis can facilitate timely access to treatment and support. However, younger adults typically experience a significantly longer wait for a dementia diagnosis than older adults, in part due to a lack of recognition of symptoms and initial misdiagnosis. This article provides an overview of young onset dementia, discusses some of the barriers to timely diagnosis and describes the associated signs and symptoms in younger adults. The author discusses ways in which the diagnostic process and post-diagnosis support may be improved for this population and poses questions for nurses to consider with regards to local service improvement. The author includes a fictional case study to illustrate the experiences of younger adults with dementia and their families.