currently living with Alzheimer's and related dementias
EARLY-ONSET CASES
~200,000
Americans diagnosed before age 65
AVG. DIAGNOSTIC DELAY
2.8 yrs
gap between symptom onset and formal diagnosis
PRE-DIAGNOSTIC LEAD TIME
10+ yrs
before clinical diagnosis that work decline may appear
Functional Performance Index — Years Before Clinical Diagnosis
FUNCTIONAL PERFORMANCE
AVG. DIAGNOSTIC DELAY WINDOW
Key Milestones in the Diagnostic Journey
-10yr
Work Performance Decline Begins
Research now suggests measurable occupational decline can begin up to a decade or more before any clinical diagnosis — but is routinely attributed to stress, burnout, or management issues.
-6yr
Colleagues & Supervisors Notice
Errors increase, deadlines are missed, complex tasks become difficult. Workers may be placed on performance improvement plans with no neurological referral.
-3.5yr
Symptom Onset (Clinical Definition)
On average, 3.5 years pass between the onset of symptoms recognizable to clinicians and a formal dementia diagnosis. For early-onset dementia, this gap is even longer — averaging 4.1 years.
-2yr
Job Loss / Forced Exit
Many workers lose employment — and employer-sponsored health insurance — before a diagnosis exists. Without a diagnosis, ADA accommodations and SSDI eligibility are difficult or impossible to secure.
Dx
Formal Diagnosis
Early-onset dementia is systematically underdiagnosed because clinicians and patients are less likely to consider it in working-age adults. Diagnosis often follows job loss, family crisis, or acute episode.