Laura Sides confirms inherited gene for early-onset dementia

Genetic testing has confirmed that Laura Sides carries the gene responsible for a rare form of early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Sides, 43, learned in 2013 that she had inherited the mutation, which doctors say will likely cause cognitive decline between the ages of 46 and 48.

The diagnosis followed a personal history that began in the United Kingdom, where Sides' father was diagnosed with the same condition in his 40s. She described him as a general practitioner and a devoted father. As his symptoms worsened, Sides dropped out of university to care for him. She recalled spending time bathing him and playing music, noting that he enjoyed the routine.

During a hospital visit, a doctor informed Sides that she had a 50 percent chance of developing the specific "London variant" of the disease. At the time, she was deeply involved in her father's care and suppressed the worry. Her father died in 2009, one year after her mother passed away.

Following her parents' deaths, Sides felt an urge to leave and took a solo trip around the world, eventually settling in Melbourne, Australia. In 2013, concerns about her genetic risk led her to see a specialist. The doctor explained that a test could determine with 99.999 percent certainty whether she carried the gene. He stated that if positive, her expected age of decline would be 46 to 48.

Sides initially resisted the test, feeling she was not ready to confront that timeline. As she entered her 30s, the desire to know grew. She underwent six months of genetic counseling before taking the test. After a six-week wait for results, she went to the appointment alone, though she had planned lunch with a friend afterward.

In the consulting room, she asked for direct answers. The results confirmed she had inherited the gene. Sides described feeling a "white blurry noise" while sitting in the room. Upon leaving, her friend cried, but Sides remained composed and proceeded to their lunch. The emotional impact arrived later, bringing feelings of anger and confusion about how to live with the knowledge.

Since the diagnosis, Sides has returned to the UK, partly because her sister is pregnant. She continued traveling to participate in medical trials both before and after receiving her results, viewing her involvement as a positive way to engage with the condition. She is now three years away from the predicted onset of symptoms.

Sides said she does not lose sleep over the impending decline but finds social interactions challenging. She often debates when to disclose her diagnosis to new acquaintants, noting that relationships sometimes end after she shares the news. However, she has also experienced support that reassures her she can be loved despite the condition.

The diagnosis has shifted Sides' life goals. She said she had always assumed she would have children but now feels it would not be fair to proceed. Instead, she focuses on immediate sources of joy, such as nature, water, and time with close friends and family. She hopes to spend her remaining years doing simple activities, such as drinking champagne and eating oysters.

Support for those affected by dementia is available through the BBC Action Line, as noted in the account of Sides' experience.