Andre Yarham was only 24 years old when he died over Christmas.
Rare Early Diagnosis
Andre Yarham lived in Norfolk in the UK. Doctors diagnosed him with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) at age 22. This disease affects personality, behavior, and language. It is less common than other types of dementia. His family now wants to raise awareness about the condition. They hope to educate others on how cruel the disease is.
Noticing First Symptoms
His mother, Samantha Fairbairn, noticed changes in November 2022. Andre started becoming very forgetful after her wedding. He also showed inappropriate behavior. Sometimes he appeared blank when people spoke to him. Other times he would completely ignore others. However, early FTD symptoms differ from Alzheimer’s disease. Memory loss often happens later in FTD cases.
Rapid Health Decline
Medical tests showed unusual shrinking of Andre’s brain. He moved into a care home in September 2025. He could walk when he first arrived. However, he needed a wheelchair just one month later. Then, he lost his ability to speak in November. Still, his mother said he could laugh. He passed away on December 27.
Helping Future Families
The family donated Andre’s brain to researchers. They hope this gift helps find a cure. Samantha Fairbairn shared her feelings with the BBC. She stated: “Dementia is a cruel, cruel disease. And I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.” She also added: “If in the future that can help one family get a few more years with their loved ones then, that would be worth it.”