How do children die from dementia?

Childhood dementia is caused by over 100 progressive, fatal genetic conditions (Elvidge et al., 2023). Over months, years or decades, these conditions damage children’s brains and nervous systems more and more, causing children to progressively lose skills they may have already developed like the ability to talk, walk and play. Over time, their brains and bodies lose the ability to keep the body functioning properly and, eventually, to keep the body alive.

The cause of death in childhood dementia disorders is usually attributed to severe untreatable seizures, heart complications or trouble breathing and swallowing. When children lose their ability to swallow, food and drink can get into their lungs, instead of the stomach. This can cause respiratory infections such as pneumonia

References

Elvidge KL, Christodoulou J, Farrar MA, et al. The collective burden of childhood dementia: a scoping review. Brain. 2023;146(11):4446-4455. doi:10.1093/brain/awad242