Andre Yarham, who spent time living in Norwich and Dereham, was taken to hospital with an infection in December and spent his last weeks at Priscilla Bacon Lodge. He died on December 27.
He was the youngest person to be diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, a condition which affects just 0.1pc of the population, due to a protein mutation in 2024.
Andre Yarham died aged 24, two years after his dementia diagnosis (Image: Sam Fairbairn)
His mum, Sam Fairbairn, and stepdad, Alistair, joined Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard on the This Morning sofa to share Andre’s heartbreaking story.
Mrs Fairbairn described how his condition worsened rapidly and that he went from being his usual self to requiring a wheelchair and residential care.
“Going into his first care home in September last year, he walked in very, very slowly, but he still walked,” she said.
“And then within a month, he was in a wheelchair and being hoisted.”
The pair spoke to This Morning hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard (Image: ITV YouTube)
She explained how the consultant said Andre’s scan looked like one of a 70-year-old who had dementia before tearfully recalling the moment she knew her son would not make it.
“And then we received the devastating news, sorry, that he was on, he was on end of life.”
ITV viewers were incredibly moved by the story, with many sharing their condolences on X.
@CharlieJMUA said: “Crying mess watching this family. Andre’s parents obviously loved him so very much, it’s all so sad.”
“You never know what’s around the corner”, shared @hippy_loraine. “Give your loved ones a hug.”
@SiouxyWoozy added: “Those poor parents, their grief is so raw, what an awful disease. RIP Andre.”
Andre’s brain has been donated to Addenbrooke’s Hospital to help with research into frontotemporal dementia.