Young-onset dementia: A systematic review of the psychological and social impact on relatives

Abstract

Objective: Young-onset dementia (YOD) has significant impact for the affected person, but also has far-reaching effects on the family. Additionally, biological relatives have an increased genetic risk of developing the condition themselves. This review aimed to identify the psychological and social impacts of YOD in the family, for asymptomatic relatives. Methods: A systematic review of key databases for empirical studies about the lived experience of biological relatives at risk for YOD was performed. Data was collated and interpreted via narrative synthesis. Results: The majority of the nineteen included studies were qualitative and explored the experiences of children with a parent with Y..