The case of a 19-year-old male from China, who was diagnosed with probable Alzheimer’s disease (AD), has been documented by neurologists. This individual is recognized as the youngest person ever to receive such a diagnosis.
The youngest Alzheimer’s patient first experienced a gradual memory decline at approximately 17 years of age. He reported difficulties focusing in class and reading, and he frequently misplaced his belongings. He often could not recall events from the previous day.
The World Health Organization-University of California Los Angeles Auditory Verbal Learning Test (WHO-UCLA AVLT) confirmed significant memory impairment. Eventually, the teenager could not complete high school due to the severity of his cognitive decline, although he could still live an independent life. Researchers measured deficits in immediate and delayed recall a year after the initial referral and found memory scores 82 to 87 percent lower than those of same-age peers.
Advanced testing identified several hallmarks of Alzheimer’s pathology:
- Neuroimaging: Positron emission tomography-magnetic resonance imaging (PET-MRI) revealed atrophy of the bilateral hippocampus and hypometabolism in the bilateral temporal lobe.
- Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF): Researchers observed an increased concentration of p-tau181 and a decreased amyloid-β 42/40 ratio in the patient’s cerebrospinal fluid. Doctors consider these biomarkers consistent with Alzheimer’s disease.
A whole-genome search was conducted, yet no known pathogenic gene mutations—such as those typically responsible for early-onset memory loss were identified. No history of Alzheimer’s or dementia was found in the patient’s family, and other potential causes, including infections or head trauma, were ruled out. This case is distinguished from the previous record-holder a 21-year-old whose condition was caused by the PSEN1 gene mutation.
The understanding of the age of onset for Alzheimer’s is said to be altered by this case. It has been suggested by the research team that the pathogenesis of AD is more complex than previously thought and must be further explored in future studies. The mystery of Youngest Alzheimer’s patient is considered one of the most challenging scientific questions for the future.
The brain’s memory center is compared to a newly constructed digital archive. While the system’s blueprints (the genome) were found to be perfect, the storage hardware (the hippocampus) was observed to be failing prematurely, even though no external damage or viruses were ever detected.
