raising awareness

Understanding...
younger-onset dementia (YOD)

What is younger-onset dementia (YOD)?

Younger-onset dementia (YOD) is defined as a condition where someone shows symptoms of brain change before age 65.
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There are hundreds of types of younger-onset dementias, including Alzheimer’s Disease, Frontotemporal Degeneration, Lewy Body Dementia, Vascular Dementia and many other neurological conditions.

Why 'younger' vs 'early'-onset dementia?

The term "early-onset dementia" is often misunderstood as referring to the early stage of dementia, rather than the age at which symptoms begin.

How many people are affected by younger-onset dementia (YOD)?

• Approximately 7.8M people worldwide are living with younger-onset dementia (YOD) (Nature, 2025).

• If we multiply 7.8M by a family of 4, more than 31 million family members are affected by younger-onset dementia.

• 200% uptick in YOD cases in the US (Blue Cross Blue Shield, 2020).

What are the unique challenges of YOD?

YOD affects people in their 30s, 40s, 50s and early 60s… often while they are working, raising families or becoming financially stable.

Resources designed for families affected by YOD are sparse.

Families living with younger-onset dementia (YOD) are unseen, misunderstood, under-resourced and under-researched.

Younger people are more likely to experience other symptoms first (such as personality change, language difficulties or movement problems) rather than just memory loss, which can delay diagnosis.

the inspiration of Lorenzo's House

Founding Story

Our sons were 9 and 13 when brain change showed up in our home. Three years later, my husband, Lorenzo, was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s. The culture in our home changed as we took on a complicated new identity; younger, with younger kids, with dementia. I call it a diagnosis of the family because of its far-reaching impact. As my husband bravely faced this condition, so did our sons, as they were witness to a complex, unforgiving, terminal brain condition in their Dad, while navigating changes in their mom. I was changing too, and like so many spouses, I soon became primary care-partner, sole breadwinner and solo parent.
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‍Quickly, I recognized the massive support gap for families like ours. Younger families with dementia are unseen, misunderstood and under-resourced. We are undiagnosed, misdiagnosed and under-researched. There are millions of us worldwide, yet the resources designed for us are sparse to none. I was determined to make meaning of things and to bridge this support gap. I envisioned a place where we could find others with our similar story…a virtual, innovative, brave place where sons, daughters, children and families of YOD could belong, build community and find light. I imagined Lorenzo’s House.
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‍‍In 2021, after a 25+ year career as an educational entrepreneur, and co-founder & president of a network of public schools in Chicago, I took a leap of faith and founded Lorenzo's House out of our son’s bedroom. With the metaphor of light guiding our family journey, our tagline ‘We Bring Light’ permeates our mindset and language at Lorenzo’s House. We are shifting the narrative for younger families…from isolation to connection, stigma to strength and dark to light. Together, we heal in community, advocate for dementia justice and educate for a YOD informed society. With a focus on developing leadership in our sons, daughters and children of younger-onset, we are changing the way the world thinks, experiences and responds to dementia. - Diana, Founding Executive Director, Lorenzo's House

bringing light since 2021...

Impact Over The Years

2021 Impact Report

OUR YEAR AROUND THE SUN

21 young people at SUMMIT, 18 US States, 12 partners,
125 donors

Received $1M anonymous donation

2022 Impact Report

We Bring Light

200+ families connected & empowered, 32 US states & 3 countries,
43 young people at SUMMIT, 60 MATCH connections,
40+ partnerships & collaborations, 176 donors

Launched our CLUBS-virtual spaces to share common stories, exchange insights and find community

2023 Impact Report

BUILDING COMMUNITY CURING ISOLATION DRIVING DEMENTIA JUSTICE

1000+ families connected & empowered, 46 US states & 5 countries, 89 young people at SUMMIT, 40+ partnerships & collaborations,
188 donors

Created our youth-designed EmpowermentPLUS Model to dismantle dementia stigma.

2024 Impact Report

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN FAMILIES IMPACTED BY YOUNGER-ONSET DEMENTIA FIND EACH OTHER?
WE ARE EMPOWERED.

2200 + family members connected & empowered, 48 US States &
15 countries, 203 young people at SUMMIT, 400 MATCH connections, 50+ partnerships & collaborations, 350 donors

Spread our mission as keynote at Alzheimer’s Disease International Conference in Krakow, Poland; Alzheimer’s Association Conference, Wisconsin, United States; ALTER Summit in Georgia, United States; and more!