17-year-old becomes youngest person diagnosed with Alzheimer’s
A teenager in China has become the youngest person in the world to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, a condition typically seen in older adults.
The rare case is challenging what scientists know about how early the disease can start.
The patient, a 17-year-old boy from Beijing, first showed signs of memory loss and difficulty concentrating while still in school.
He frequently lost his belongings and struggled with his schoolwork.
Doctors began monitoring him closely, and by the age of 19, specialists confirmed that he had Alzheimer’s disease.
The diagnosis was led by Dr. Jianping Jia, a neurologist at Capital Medical University in Beijing. He said this case stands out because symptoms appeared two years earlier than in the previous youngest known patient, who was also diagnosed at 19.
Brain scans showed shrinking in the hippocampus, the part of the brain linked to memory. Tests of the teenager’s spinal fluid revealed protein buildups usually found in people with Alzheimer’s.
“This case has changed our understanding of the age at which Alzheimer’s can begin,” Dr. Jia was quoted as saying by Colombia One.
Doctors ruled out other causes such as infections, head injuries, and metabolic issues.
They also found no family history or genetic mutations normally linked to early-onset Alzheimer’s.
The boy’s memory had declined so much that he was unable to finish high school, though he can still manage some daily tasks.
Experts say the case may help improve understanding of the disease in younger people and push for research into unknown causes.
