Birmingham woman at risk of dementia that led to mother’s death

At the age of 28, Liv Heeney discovered that he was probably a faulty gene that would probably cause him to develop a rare form of dementia at a young age.

Early starting Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) has already impressed 13 members of his family, including his mother Bernie, who died of a 54 -year -old illness.

Liv from Birmingham lives with the reality that will probably improve the situation in his 40s and die in his 50s – but he uses the information to make sure that he is not born with a gene.

At the same time, he was given a chance to plan a family, but he said: “This is a good balance. I don’t want to look forward because I miss it right now.”

FTD, To NHSIn most cases diagnosed in people between the ages of 45-65, behavior and memory cause problems related to memory.

It can also be hereditary, One in eight people with a genetic connection.

As he grew up, Liv knew his grandfather and he lost his life early in Dementia before more than one brother was born, and when he began to realize his mother’s out -of -character behavior.

“He didn’t just look like him, he was missing very unusual jobs [as] He loved his job. Would be [also] Make inappropriate comments, BB BBC Radio WM said.

“I think the big first telek sign was when my grandfather’s father’s father died [in 2012] And he had no really emotional response.

“My mother trusted people that she was worried about what happened to what happened to her father.” He said.

In 2013, Bernie was diagnosed with dementia shortly after his 50th birthday and his husband became the primary caregiver.

Liv said that his mother had lost basic skills such as washing, walking, food and drinking as well as his mother’s ability to speak soon.

“When he was diagnosed, he didn’t really know what happened.”

In 2017, Bernie died at home, Liv, who was only 21 years old, is in a hurry to capture the last -minute train from the university in London.

After years of negotiation, Liv decided to start a genetic test process at Birmingham Women’s Hospital in January 2024 and learned whether he had inherited the same gene that caused his mother’s dementia.

After an eight -month period from the first speech, he said that the approval came from a simple blood test that lasts for about five minutes.

Hall Green’den Liv, “I always had again, I assume that it will happen to me, I do not know that it would be, why, only the intestine was a feeling,” he added.

On August 2, that year, he learned that he tested positively for the faulty microtubule -related protein Tau (MAPT) gene.

“Me and my wife suddenly came in and even before sitting on the chair [the geneticist] He said, ‘I’m really sorry, it’s not the result we want’. “

Liv added that confirmation was “difficult to define”, but “wasn’t really a shock”.

For many people in their 20s, they are not something they need to focus on the possibility of dying at a young age.

But for Liv, who now works as a designer in London, the disease is something he thinks every day.

The health of future children was one of the main reasons why LIV, a seven -year -old partner, wanted to carry the gene.

Liv, “If I wanted to have children, I felt that I was responsible for taking. I had to protect them from it.”

With the help of IVF and embryo scanning, it hopes to be born without a faulty gene.

“If you find out that you have again, there are ways to make sure you don’t pass now.”

Liv said that a widespread misunderstanding, dementia is only affecting older people.

“The situation is not like this [dementia] A natural part of aging, this is a disease, physical changes in your brain.

“This is a disease like cancer and a helpers, even like Covid – something physical in the body,” he said.

Liv believes that there should be more funds and research in FTD.

Despite his diagnosis, Liv is determined to live as planned. Next weekend, Alzheimer will hold a donation night for Birmingham for Alzheimer Research UK.

“If I have children today, I will take them with them for 15 years. If I have children in five years, I have less time with them.”

“I know the reality of this, I know what will happen.”

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