How to Identify Dementia in Younger Patients

Juvenile dementia is extremely rare, and can be linked to more than one disease. Huntington's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder,characterized by dementia, and is more prevalent in the juvenile form of the disease. According to a 1999 study by SRivastava T, Lal V, and Prabhakar S, conducted at Neurol India, Huntington's disease usually begins in mid life. Onset is usually at 35 to 42 years. 10% of Huntington's cases develop before age 20, and as little as 3% develop before age 15. Children diagnosed with Huntington's disease will usually experience a more rapid clinical decline as opposed to adults with the disease.

Family history of dementia is a key factor in diagnosing children. Rigidity and loss of facial expression, impaired ocular mobility, tremors, and sometimes seizure disorders are outward symptoms of Huntington's disease in those under age 15. Other early signs that your child may be suffering from the disease are difficulty with familiar activities, language and speech problems, impaired judgment, leaving things behind or putting things in odd places, mood swings and behavioral changes, confusion, personal changes, and loss of initiative.

If you suspect that a child may have Huntington's disease, your physician will want to perform lab and blood tests, possibly cerebral liquor tests, an EEG, MRT, PET, or other brain scans. In addition, the doctor may want to conduct a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). This test can be especially difficult for children as it makes problems obvious. Shame and despair may be a result of the MMSE, and parents and family member to show love and support to the juvenile patient. According to the Mayo Clinic, geneticists, neurologists, psychiatrists, and psychologists may be enlisted to aid in the treatment of the juvenile with Huntington's disease. While the progression of the disease cannot be stopped, quality of life can be improved through therapy. Some treatment options are drug therapy to help with some of the symptoms, mental health care, swallowing and physical therapies.

Niemann-Pick disease is another disease that results in juvenile dementia. There are about 500 known cases of the three types of Niemann-Pick disease. Both Type A, or NPA, and Type B, or NPB, can be diagnosed with a blood test. Type C is diagnosed by performing a skin biopsy in which the fibroblasts are studied to determine the ability to transport and store cholesterol. According to Dr. Marc Patterson, Niemann-PIck causes patients to have excessive amounts of lipids in the brain. Symptoms of Neimann Pick can present as early in life as a few months. An enlarged liver, spleen, or jaundiced infant may be at risk for developing this disease caused by a mutated gene. In most cases symptoms were apparent from ages 4 to 10. These symptoms may include unusual shortness of breath, reoccurring lung infections, loss of motor skills, loss of ocular mobility, learning problems, sudden loss of muscle tone, slurred speech, and hypersensitivity to touch. Niemann-Pick Type 3 always results in fatality. Individual symptoms can be treated, but as of yet there is no known cure.

Children suffering from dementia, may become depressed, confused, and irrational. Marked behavior changes like lashing out, crying, and screaming have been known to occur as a result of dementia. Early on the child may exhibit changes in school habits, like dropping grades. As dementia progresses, it is best to have a care plan set in place. There are many organizations dedicated to research and support of parents and their children that are affected by this disease. At some point you may have to consider institutional care for the patient. It is always advised that you discuss any decision with other family members and your physician.