Britain’s youngest dementia sufferer dies aged 24 and donates brain to science

A consultant told him he had the brain of a 70-year-old

Britain's youngest dementia sufferer has died aged 24 and chose to donate his brain to science.

Andre Yarham was given the shock diagnosis that he had a form of early-onset dementia after his family noticed he was moving and speaking very slowly.

He was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia due to a protein mutation a month before his 23rd birthday.

Frontotemporal dementia is a rare form of the disease affecting about one in 20 people with a dementia diagnosis.

Andre, from Dereham in Norfolk, passed away on December 27 in a hospice following an infection.

Mum Sam Fairbairn, 49, paid tribute to her son as having a 'heart of gold' and has donated his brain to science to battle the 'cruel' disease.

The former coach driver said: "Andre was a cheeky lad with a great sense of humour. He had a heart of gold.

"There's not enough awareness of how cruel this disease can be. There are different types of dementia, different symptoms and different behaviours. 

"We made the decision to donate Andre's brain to medical research.

"If in the future, if Andre has been able to help just one more family have a precious few more years with a loved one, that would mean the absolute world."

Sam said Andre began to become forgetful in 2022 and had a blank look on his face when spoken to.

Sometimes, he would ignore someone speaking to him completely, as if he hadn't heard them talk.

Sam was then told by a consultant in 2023 after an MRI scan that her son had the brain of a 70-year-old and that he had early-onset dementia.

Andre relied on his mum to be his round-the-clock carer, helping to bathe him, make his food and drink and pick out his clothes.

The young man, from Norwich, Norfolk, became just 0.1 per cent of the UK population to receive a form of dementia diagnosis under the age of 65.

Sam said it was a "devastating blow" to learn that her son had dementia and said it had been really tough for the family.

She explained: "Andre got his official diagnosis just before his 23rd birthday.

"In that time, his speech went totally. He was just making noises. The last six months was when we started to see a very rapid decline.

"He was moving less and less. Andre was struggling to feed himself, pick up a cup, becoming very unsteady.

"We had to make the hard decision to move him into a nursing home which he went into at the beginning of the September.

"He walked into his room which we'd all decorated for him. Within a month he was in a wheelchair and had to be hoisted."

Andre, an avid fan of wrestling, grew up as a normal lad, playing rugby and football when he was in school.

As he grew older, he began playing Xbox games like Fifa and Call of Duty with his mates.

He also had a job at Lotus Cars, a manufacturer of luxury cars in Norwich, replacing car headliners - the material in the ceiling of the vehicles.

He left after just six months, with mum Sam explaining that he was struggling to get through the day but couldn't tell them what was wrong.

Sam said Andre's diagnosis had been "very tough" on the family, which consists of her other son Tyler, 23 and husband Alastair, 62.

In December 2025, Andre was taken to hospital with an infection.

Sam said: "That was the start of a very rapid decline. He became less aware of us being there.

"Andre stopped eating and drinking and we were then told he was on end of life."

Andre was moved to Priscilla Bacon Lodge Hospice after three weeks in hospital.

He was there for just over a week before passing away on December 27.

Sam and Andre's family have donated the young sufferer's brain to science to the hopes it will aid research into dementia.

Mum Sam added: "If people do have concerns about loved ones and their memories, there are tests available and go to your GP.

"We want to thank everyone who has shown us love and support with Andre's journey."