Hi wimbledon7
it is cruel on the young and old alike. my wife is only 52
yes it always seemed particularly cruel to me that so many younger people have dementia, many more than is generally recognised.
However, you are quite correct, it is cruel on people at any age.
This came home to me a couple of years after my Jan was in her care home. she was 62 at the time but I had been caring for her at home then for 10 years.
To reach the care home I was driving 100 miles every day to visit her at that time, something I wanted and was able to do.
In the same home, a lady in her 80s from the local area came in on respite, and was visited daily by her husband, who was also of that age and not in good health.
When the time came for her to move to a care home, the nearest one that could take her was a good 40 miles away. At that distance, the husband, who was no longer able to drive, had no chance of being able to make daily visits.
They were devoted to each other and their pain must have been intense.
I realised then that the 'perk' of being younger - perhaps the only one - is that many younger spouses at least can determine through will just when they can visit, not through ability.
In most cases that is, of course. It also happens that spouses of younger people with dementia are also unable physically to travel long distances.
Yes, it is hell for all, I guess.