Dementia: 3 early signs of vascular dementia in a 30-year-old

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Symptoms of dementia usually follow years of internal brain decay, but for a subset of the condition, symptoms can appear as early as age 30.

The disease, known as cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), usually leads to vascular dementia. This condition, inherited from parents, affects blood vessels in the white matter of the brain.

“White matter is located in the deeper tissues of the brain (subcortical). It contains nerve fibers (axons), which are extensions of nerve cells (neurons). Many of these nerve fibers are surrounded by a sheath or covering called myelin; myelin gives the white matter its color.”

A person in their “mid-30s” who has CADASIL may suffer from:

• Migraines
• Seizures
• Severe depression

The National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD) added that the “distinctive symptoms” of CADASIL may include:

• Recurrent strokes
• Cognitive disorders
• Migraine with aura
• Mental disorders

“Specific symptoms and severity of the disease can vary greatly in different people, even in members of the same family”.

However, most victims suffer from repeated mini-strokes, starting from the age of 40-50. Although some people with the condition never have strokes.

Studies show that the disorder is often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Diagnosis usually requires discussion of family history, symptoms, and brain MRI lesions consistent with the disease. DNA testing for the presence of characteristic mutations in the NOTCH3 gene is also required.