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Jayde GreeneYoung British woman with inherited form of Alzheimer's disease
Country:
 Great Britain |
Content:
- A Mother's Courage: Jade Green's Journey with Familial Alzheimer's
- A Threat to a Young Family
- A Determined Search for a Cure
- A Desire to Help Others
- A Personal Connection to Alzheimer's
- A Genetic Legacy
- Early Onset Alzheimer's
- Treatment Options
A Mother's Courage: Jade Green's Journey with Familial Alzheimer's
Jade Green, a 27-year-old British mother, was diagnosed with 'familial Alzheimer's disease' in July 2017. This rare genetic mutation is the same that prematurely claimed the life of her father, Michael, when he was just 52.
A Threat to a Young Family
Currently, Jade shows no symptoms, but she is expected to develop them between the ages of 42 and 45. Her son, Freddie, will be between 15 and 18 at that time. She fears she may have passed the mutation on to him, as she herself inherited it.
A Determined Search for a Cure
Despite her diagnosis, Jade is taking part in clinical trials to find a cure for her degenerative disease. "If we can find a way of stopping it [the disease] from progressing, I will still get to see my son grow up from a little boy to a young man," she says.
A Desire to Help Others
Jade is driven to find a cure for Alzheimer's, both for herself and for others. "I might not be able to save myself, but I can try and do something for other people in the future," she says. She is participating in a four-year trial of innovative treatments that began in November 2017.
A Personal Connection to Alzheimer's
Jade's father was diagnosed with dementia when she was in her teenage years. He passed away from the disease seven years ago. Her uncle, Brian, died from Alzheimer's in November 2016. Another uncle, David, and an aunt, Caroline, also show symptoms of the neurodegenerative disorder.
A Genetic Legacy
For years, Jade avoided thinking she might have the same genetic mutation as her family members. She finally decided to be tested on July 7, 2017, and was diagnosed with the same mutation that had afflicted her father.
Early Onset Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's disease that develops in people under the age of 65 is considered early or young-onset. About 4% of cases are early-onset, typically starting in a person's 40s, 50s, or 60s. Symptoms include memory loss that interferes with daily life, confusion, personality changes, and difficulty with language or vision. Early-onset Alzheimer's is rarely inherited, and several genes have now been identified that are thought to play a role in its inheritance.
Treatment Options
The focus of treatment for dementia is on slowing the progression of the disease and helping those affected manage their daily lives.
