Australian dad Fraser has shared how he learned he had young-onset Alzheimer’s — and the early signs his children noticed first.
Fraser, 41, said he was diagnosed midway through 2024. But looking back, he believes his symptoms began about two years earlier. Young-onset Alzheimer’s (also called early-onset Alzheimer’s) is a less common form of dementia that starts before age 65.
In a March 30 Q&A on his YouTube channel, I (don’t) have dementia, Fraser said he asked his kids what they remembered as his earliest changes. They told him it seemed “casual” at first. Everyone forgets things sometimes, they said, but his everyday memory slips started happening more often and more frequently.
Fraser also spoke about the emotional toll after the diagnosis. At first, he tried not to think about it. But about five to six months later, his mental health “crashed.” He started having panic attacks and feeling depressed, which he believes was linked to avoiding the reality of his condition.
He said he began seeing a psychologist and started antidepressants. While filming YouTube videos can be stressful, he described it as a helpful process too. Talking openly brings the fear “to the surface,” helps him work through it, and makes it feel more manageable.
Fraser added that facing these thoughts is hard, but he sees it as an important step toward acceptance.