Manchester City prospect Floyd Samba speaks to the Manchester Evening News about coming through the ranks at the Etihad, training under Pep Guardiola and his first team ambition

Floyd Samba has an unlikely Manchester City mentor in Abdukodir Khusanov. Samba, 17, has been something of a regular in first-team training for the Blues in recent months, and it’s Khusanov, along with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who have taken the teenager under the wing.

Donnarumma has, of course, been there and done it, tasting success at club and international level prior to his arrival at City. For Khusanov, who is still trying to cement his place in the first team and is still learning English, his willingness to assist Samba and the other youngsters who step into the senior training sessions is commendable.

“He doesn’t speak much English but he is really helpful with the young lads,” said Samba, speaking to the Manchester Evening News of Khusanov. “Donnarumma is very nice and a good guy. He spoke to me quite a bit. A few players helped and are welcoming.”

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Samba is one of the leading lights of City’s Under-18 side who are chasing FA Youth Cup glory this season. The young Blues have a last four tie with Blackburn Rovers next week and could potentially face Manchester United in a mouthwatering final.

And while tangible success on the pitch is important, it’s the development and improvement of the players that is most vital. Spells in first team training play a key role in the line of progression, City don’t gift spots in the senior set-up and when youngsters move across they are treated as though they belong. There is no easing off for academy prospects, no drop in intensity. The message is clear: You’re here on merit, show us what you’ve got.

For Samba, the initial wow moment of training alongside his heroes has passed. He’s been involved with Pep Guardiola’s group on countless occasions this term and is determined to absorb the information and detail to help him on his way.

“I think it is more natural now because I have been there a few times,” he said. “When I first went it was mad just seeing the quality of the players.

“It is surreal, you get to go over there and see the best players and managers in the world. The staff are very welcoming, you don’t feel out of place and you can pick up on all of the basics that the players do and I can take it on and get a bit of experience.”

It’s telling that the words Samba uses to describe the biggest takeaway from Guardiola’s sessions are ‘intensity, demanding and 24/7.’ Samba describes the boss as ‘focussed with whatever is next’. “He treats you the same as any other player,” he adds.

Samba’s Under-18 coach at the Etihad Oli Reiss sees the right traits in the midfielder to believe he can succeed at the highest level. “He is an incredible player,” he told the Manchester Evening News. “His mentality and physicality and the way he is able to play football . . . I think he can have a big future.”

For now the next step for Samba is a City debut. The son of former Premier League football Christopher and brother of fellow City prospect Tyrone, is a progressive midfielder with attacking instincts and an eye for goal.

He could be the next youngster in line for a first team bow, with the likes of Jayden and Reigan Heskey and Charlie Gray having had minutes in the Carabao Cup this season.

Samba was on the bench for the FA Cup win over Salford City in February, another staging post in his fledgling career, and he makes no bones about what the next ambition is.

“Playing in the first team is the next aim and it would be a proud moment for me and my family. I was proud to be on the bench, unfortunately I didn’t get on but hopefully, give it time, and it will happen in the future. I just have to be patient.”

The BBC’s Middle East correspondent Hugo Bachega reports from the funerals of three journalists killed by a targeted attack by Israel in southern Lebanon on Saturday 28 March.

Ali Shoeib, a reporter for the Hezbollah-affiliated Al Manar TV station, was killed in the town of Jezzine alongside reporter Fatima Ftouni and her brother, cameraman Mohamed Ftouni, both from the channel Al Mayadeen, according to the stations.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed it had killed Shoeib, describing him as a “terrorist”, but provided no evidence to support the claim that he played a military role in the organisation. The Israeli military has not offered any comment on the killings of Fatima and Mahamed Ftoni.

Read more on this story.

Bruno Fernandes’ Manchester United future is still hanging in the balance

Although he has been arguably Manchester United’s best and most reliable performer in recent seasons, Bruno Fernandes‘ long-term future at Old Trafford has seldom seemed completely assured. The 31-year-old is having a standout campaign, having tallied eight goals and 17 assists in all competitions so far.

But regardless of his productivity and close connection with both the club and its fanbase, ongoing talk of a possible exit has continued. That feeling of doubt grew stronger during Ruben Amorim’s spell in charge, when reports suggested the club were willing to consider a high-value transfer to Saudi Arabia, briefly putting strain on the bond between player and team.

However, with the Portugal international returning to peak form and firmly in contention for PFA Player of the Year, things seem to have settled – at least for now.

Here, Mirror Football looks at the broader situation involving Fernandes, including details of a huge contract offer and a little-known release clause in his Unitec contract.

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£700k-a-week offer

Last year, reports indicated that Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal were ready to lodge a £100m bid for Fernandes, along with an eye-watering £700,000-per-week salary that would have made him one of the top earners in global sport.

As the midfielder nears the latter stages of his career and United aim to manage their finances carefully, the club were willing to approve a transfer. However, that position did not sit comfortably with Fernandes, who was said to be “hurt” by United’s openness to letting him go.

In the end, no formal offer was submitted, meaning United kept their captain but also missed out on what could have been a record-breaking sale for the club.

Release clause

Although Fernandes has stated his desire to remain at United, the club technically cannot prevent him from leaving. This is due to a £56.68 million release clause in his contract, which can only be activated by overseas clubs.

While that figure might discourage some European sides from pursuing a player who turns 32 in September and offers limited resale potential, it would not pose an issue for Saudi teams.

Al-Hilal had been willing to bid £100m as they were keen to secure Fernandes ahead of last year’s Club World Cup, which started in June before the clause became active, and fresh interest from the Middle East is anticipated this summer.

If Fernandes remains at the club, United are expected to begin talks over a new deal, with his current contract set to expire in 2027. They also hold the option to extend it by an additional year.

United keen to keep Bruno

Despite earlier speculation linking him with a departure, the club’s position has now clearly shifted toward keeping Fernandes. While there is a continued effort to lower the wage bill – with Fernandes earning £300,000 per week – United are determined to maintain their captain’s influence on the field.

That stance has reportedly been communicated directly to Fernandes to help remove any lingering uncertainty about his future. He is also thought to feel more settled since Michael Carrick assumed control in January.

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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package

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Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.

Homan also told CBS, the BBC’s US news partner, that even after the shutdown ended and funding for TSA was restored, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents currently deployed to airports across the country to help with travel disruptions would remain “until the airports feel like they are 100%.”

Manchester United have been linked with an interest in Chesea’s Cole Palmer during the international break

Manchester United will be closely monitoring players on international duty as the club continue to formulate their summer strategy. The team’s resurgence under Michael Carrick has placed United in the running for a Champions League berth and has generated enthusiasm ahead of the forthcoming transfer window.

United have maintained their ability to attract top talent even during more challenging periods but securing a return to Europe’s premier club competition could pave the way for even more distinguished signings. Chelsea star Cole Palmer has been tentatively linked with a potential move to Old Trafford.

The England international has been an exceptional performer since joining the west London outfit but their recent struggles have intensified speculation that Palmer could be considering his future. United have been mentioned as one of several potential landing spots.

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Elsewhere, United loanee Marcus Rashford has impressed while representing England during the international break. MEN Sport examines some of the key stories surrounding the club.

Cole Palmer transfer update

Palmer is reportedly growing increasingly frustrated at Chelsea. The Blues were eliminated from the Champions League by PSG this month, while their disappointing league campaign has left Liam Rosenior’s side sitting six points adrift of the top four.

The Sun has reported that Palmer is primed to depart Stamford Bridge in the summer, with the attacking midfielder valued at £150million. United are cited as a potential suitor but are claimed to be up against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich for his signature.

The 23-year-old is reportedly unhappy with Chelsea’s tactics, while injury issues have frequently hindered him from performing at his peak this season. However, any transfer would require a hefty fee as he is under contract until 2033.

Palmer came through Manchester City’s academy before moving to Chelsea in 2023 but the attacking midfielder was a boyhood United supporter. He has netted 10 goals in 25 appearances across all competitions this season.

Marcus Rashford given hope

Rashford has caught the eye of England manager Thomas Tuchel after starting for the Three Lions against Uruguay on Friday. The 28-year-old has found it challenging to secure a regular spot in Barcelona’s team at club level but Tuchel, who had previously commented on Rashford’s struggle to fulfil his potential, has praised the United loanee’s dedication to the cause.

“He tries. He tries hard,” the England boss stated. “He hasn’t started a game for a long, long time. So we gave him this because I spoke to him.

“I was very impressed with the training yesterday. It was a defensive training and he was very strong with Djed Spence on the side.

“Understanding how to initiate the press for us. He worked hard and I think he worked very hard. He just can’t get the goal that he maybe needs to be in full confidence. I’m happy with the way he tried and it was a constant threat.”

Rashford will be looking to assert himself once again against Japan on Tuesday, with his sights set on securing a place in England’s squad for the 2026 World Cup. The forward has been a consistent presence in the England team under Tuchel’s management.

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Even after President Donald Trump ordered emergency pay for Transportation Security Administration agents to ease long security lines, major U.S. airports on Sunday were still urging travelers to arrive hours early — and federal immigration officers brought in to help may not be leaving anytime soon.

Trump’s executive order on Friday instructed the Department of Homeland Security to pay TSA officers immediately, though it’s unclear how quickly travelers will see an impact. The move comes during a busy travel stretch, with spring breaks underway and Passover and Easter approaching.

Tens of thousands of TSA employees have been working without pay since DHS funding lapsed on Valentine’s Day. The department’s shutdown reached 44 days on Sunday, eclipsing the record 43-day shutdown last fall that affected all of the federal government.

Trump deployed Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to some airports a week ago to help with security as TSA callouts rose nationwide — the same officers who may now remain in place if TSA staffing strains continue.

When will ICE’s deployment at airports end?

Making the rounds on Sunday morning news shows, White House border czar Tom Homan said it depends on how many TSA employees would be returning to work after they start receiving their pay.

“ICE is there to help our brothers and sisters in TSA. We’ll be there as long as they need us, until they get back to normal operations and feel like those airports are secure,” he told CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Homan said it also depends on how many TSA agents “have actually quit and have no plan on coming back to work.” Nearly 500 TSA officers have left the agency since the shutdown started, according to DHS.

On Saturday night, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said in a post on X that more ICE agents were being deployed to Baltimore-Washington International Airport to assist at TSA security checkpoints to “speed up the clearance process for passengers — not immigration enforcement.”

When will TSA officers get paid?

Homan, in his CNN interview, said he hopes TSA officers will be paid by Monday or Tuesday.

“It’s good news because these TSA officers are struggling,” Homan said. “They can’t feed their families or pay their rent.”

Also on Sunday, Charlotte Douglas International Airport said in a post on X that backpay could arrive for TSA agents beginning Monday.

“While this action provides critical relief, CLT supports long-term solutions to ensure continued stability for this essential workforce,” the airport said.

Johnny Jones, secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Government Employees’ TSA chapter, said Sunday that he has heard from workers worried they may not receive their full back pay because TSA management was given very short notice to begin processing payments. He also said TSA agents are concerned they could miss pay for time they were unable to work because they couldn’t afford to report for duty.

“It is a disaster in progress,” Jones said.

What’s the current situation on the ground?

Some of the busiest U.S. airports continued to ask travelers to plan ahead in order to get through security lines.

Houston’s main airport, George Bush Intercontinental, warned Sunday evening that TSA wait times could reach four hours or longer. Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport also told passengers to arrive at least four hours early for both domestic and international flights.

LaGuardia Airport posted an alert Sunday evening on its website that “TSA lines are currently longer than usual.”

Baltimore-Washington International Airport said Sunday on X that “wait times have greatly subsided on this Spring Break Sunday,” but it still asked passengers to show up several hours early. Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans offered the same guidance.

Also on Sunday, passengers could once again see estimated security wait times at the three main airports serving the New York City area — LaGuardia, John F. Kennedy and Newark Liberty.

All three had removed that feature from their websites earlier in the week, citing “rapid” changes in passenger volumes and TSA staffing. For the same reason, they cautioned that the restored wait times may not always “reflect current conditions.”

How soon will this help with airport delays?

It’s hard to tell.

Caleb Harmon-Marshall, a former TSA officer who runs a travel newsletter called Gate Access, said the staffing crisis won’t improve significantly until officers are confident that they won’t be subjected to more skipped paychecks.

“It has to be an extended pay for them to come back or want to stay there,” he said, estimating longer lines could linger for another week or two.

Jones, the TSA union leader, offered a more optimistic outlook on Sunday, saying he’s hopeful that passengers could see wait times ease closer to typical levels once workers are able to afford basic expenses like gas to get to work.

TSA will also have to decide whether to reopen the checkpoints and security lanes they closed or consolidated at some airports due to inadequate staffing, which led to passengers standing in screening lines that clogged check-in areas or showing up far too early for their flights.

A handful of airports have experienced daily TSA officer call-out rates of 40% or higher in recent weeks.

___

Sedensky reported from New York, Yamat from Las Vegas and Raby from Charleston, West Virginia. Associated Press journalist Julie Walker contributed from New York.

Sean Carr is taking on the 26 mile challenge for the charity that supported his family since before son Andrew, now nine, was born with spina bifida.

A Scottish Premiership referee is swapping jeers for cheers as he prepares to tackle the London marathon in honour of his disabled son.

Sean Carr, 42, is taking on the 26 mile challenge for the charity that supported his family since before son Andrew, now nine, was born with spina bifida.

The dad is used to being unpopular on the pitch as his second job as a referee and linesman can see his decisions criticised by thousands of fans at top table clashes.

But he has committed to running a second marathon for Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland after getting a buzz from the “good vibes” brought by the crowds cheering him on at last year’s Edinburgh event.

He said: “When I got to Edinburgh City Centre there were massive crowds cheering you on and I loved that, especially when you can be used to 60,000 people critiquing your decisions.

“It was all positive, good vibes so when I went back to reffing a football match afterwards it took a while for the system to readjust.

“Last year I figured if I ever wanted to do a marathon I needed to do it before my knees and my legs decided I’d had enough so I changed my training to accommodate it.

“I loved the Edinburgh Marathon but my legs were leaden for three or four days and it was about the fourth day, when my legs were finally back to normal, that I got a call from Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland (SBHS) asking me to run the London Marathon for them this year.

“Thankfully the call came at that time because if it had come on the first three days after Edinburgh I don’t think I would have agreed to put my legs through that torture.”

Andrew’s condition was diagnosed at his 16-week scan. With little information available about the condition, Sean and wife Lynne found the charity online and sought advice.

Sean, who works for a bank in his day job, said: “We came across the SBHS centre in Cumbernauld and they invited us along to one of their family days. Lynne was about 20 weeks pregnant when we went.

“Everyone was lovely. They were all really excited because they hadn’t had a brand-new baby join the group for a long time. Some of the older staff still call him Baby Andrew.”

Andrew was born a month early in December 2016. The couple had been told to prepare that he may need surgery from birth but he was born healthy and well.

Andrew also has a scoliosis, a curvature of the spine, and will need a major operation in the future after which he will need to learn to walk again.

He uses a metal frame on his leg to help support him when he walks and sometimes needs to use walking sticks and a wheelchair.

But despite the challenges of his condition he has defied the odds to become a disabled gymnast, with coaches already tipping him for future Paralympic glory.

Sean said: “Andrew has had spina bifida from day one so he has no other idea how to live his life.

“If he sees his friends doing something he wants to do the same. Sometimes it is not always possible but if he can, he will or will try to use some other method.

“He has a brilliant determination. He doesn’t have an ‘I quit’ or ‘I can’t do that’ mentality.”

Andrew started getting into disabled sport as soon as rules allowed when he turned eight and his talent was obvious. He now competes for the City of Glasgow Gymnastics Club.

Sean said: “It was great because the interest in Andrew was phenomenal. He has never had people fighting over him before.

“Andrew is a wee daredevil. If Andrew can do a somersault, a back flip or climb anything, he’ll climb it and he’ll jump. He doesn’t think about the consequences that he might get hurt.

“They said his upper body strength is phenomenal and they really think he has great potential.”

Lawrence Cowan, CEO at Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland, said: “We are so grateful to Sean for all the fundraising he has done so far, and we’ll all be cheering him on as he takes on the London Marathon.

“Everyone with spina bifida and hydrocephalus deserves the chance to feel unstoppable. But it’s only through generous donations that we can make that happen for kids like Andrew, his family and so many other people right across the country.

“The money Sean raises will power our work to provide opportunities for understanding, fun and friendship.”

You can support Sean in his marathon bid here.

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Tottenham chose to part ways with Igor Tudor on Sunday, just seven matches and 44 days into his spell as interim coach of a team that has plunged into a relegation fight in the Premier League.

A club statement on Sunday afternoon read: “We can confirm that it has been mutually agreed for head coach Igor Tudor to leave the club with immediate effect.”

Tottenham thanked Tudor for his work and said “An update on a new head coach will be provided in due course.”

Tudor’s exit leaves Spurs without a head coach heading into the final seven games of the Premier League season, with the London club just one place and one point above the relegation zone.

The Croatian coach was hired on Feb. 14 until the end of the season, but his final match in charge proved to be a 3-0 home loss to Nottingham Forest in the league on March 22, ahead of the international break. That left Tottenham one point above the relegation zone with seven games left as one of England’s biggest clubs battles to preserve its nearly 50-year top-flight status.

Tudor lost five of his seven games at Tottenham, including four straight at the start.

After the Forest game, it was announced that Tudor’s father had died and the coach didn’t undertake his post-match media duties.

Tottenham’s statement on Sunday said “We also acknowledge the bereavement that Igor has recently suffered and send our support to him and his family at this difficult time.”

Tudor oversaw Tottenham’s round-of-16 exit in the Champions League at the hands of Atletico Madrid. That included a humiliating 5-2 loss in the first leg in Madrid, when Tudor substituted his controversially selected backup goalkeeper, Antonin Kinsky, in the 17th minute.

Who comes next?

Former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi, ex-Monaco coach Adi Hütter and former Burnley and Everton manager Sean Dyche are among the bookmakers’ favorites to take over, or they could turn to Ryan Mason, a boyhood Spurs fan and player who has twice been caretaker before.

Former Spurs manager Harry Redknapp had also expressed interest before Sunday’s announcement.

The 79-year-old Redknapp is only a year older than Roy Hodgson, the recently appointed interim head coach of second-tier Bristol City.

Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust said it had been “a season of bad calls.”

Its post on X read: “With thanks to Igor and his team for their efforts, and wishing him and his family time to come to terms with their loss.

“In a season of bad calls, let’s hope we now see a wise choice for the remainder of the campaign.

“Someone who understands the club and is up to the task in front of them: retaining our Premier League status. Someone we can all be proud of and who can bring some much needed success and enjoyment to our long suffering fanbase.”

After Ange

Tottenham started the season with a new manager in Thomas Frank, who replaced Ange Postecoglou in the offseason.

Frank lasted eight months but couldn’t replicate his success at previous team Brentford. Tudor was brought in for his first job in English soccer, with a reputation for having an instant impact at clubs, but couldn’t arrest Tottenham’s slide.

His first match was a 4-1 home loss to Arsenal, Tottenham’s fiercest rival and who Tudor described as “probably the best team in the world at this moment” — a comment that, while possibly true, hardly ingratiated him with Spurs fans.

Tottenham had its worst losing streak in its history

Under Tudor, Spurs completed a six-match losing streak — the worst run of results in the club’s nearly 144-year history.

They haven’t won any of their last 13 games in the Premier League, dating back to the end of December.

Tottenham has been an ever-present in the Premier League since the competition was founded in 1992, and last played in the second tier in the 1977-78 season.

Tudor’s conduct toward Kinsky criticized

Tudor faced criticism for his professionalism and man-management for the way he treated Kinsky during the match against Atletico.

The Czech goalkeeper was selected for his first game since October and made two mistakes leading to goals in the opening 15 minutes, prompting Tudor to substitute him.

Tudor didn’t acknowledge Kinsky as the young goalkeeper walked off the field and straight down the tunnel.

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel felt sorry for Kinsky, saying of Tudor: “What he’s done there, for me, he’s absolutely killed his career. That’s going to take something to get over that.”

___

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The England international is determined to avoid any further punishments as Barcelona prepare to make a decision at the end of the season

Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford has made a significant change after being punished by Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick. Last September, the England international was disciplined for arriving two minutes late to a team meeting, which led to him being dropped to the bench for their La Liga clash with Getafe.

Despite reports claiming his security card malfunctioned, he was left out of the starting XI. Flick had instructed players to attend a 9:30am meeting on the morning of the game, followed by an ‘activation session’ at 11am.

However, sources close to Rashford confirmed he did not arrive until 9:32am, prompting Flick to enforce his strict punctuality rule. The German coach is known for his zero‑tolerance approach to lateness, with players regularly dropped for arriving even a minute or two behind schedule.

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At the time, Flick opted instead for a front three of Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Torres and Raphinha, with them going on to win 3-0 at the Nou Camp.

Rashford quickly learned to make sure the same mistake wouldn’t happen again and now arrives 30 minutes early according to the Daily Mail.

Rashford has settled in well in Catalonia after a difficult spell under former United boss Ruben Amorim.

The forward was dropped by the Portuguese coach, which led to a brief loan move to Aston Villa before he completed a season‑long switch to the Spanish giants.

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With his loan now nearing its end, Barca have the option to make the move permanent for £26million but his long‑term future remains far from certain.

Reports suggest the La Liga giants are not planning to make a decision until the end of the season.

As for a potential return to Old Trafford, the Daily Mail adds that even with a regime change at United, a summer reconciliation is far from guaranteed.

His reported £325,000‑a‑week wages ‘do not fit comfortably’ within the current Old Trafford structure, which leans heavily toward incentive‑based contracts with lower basic salaries.

It’s also noted that if a permanent move to the Camp Nou does not materialise, a loan elsewhere remains an option and with the World Cup approaching, that could offer him a valuable chance to impress potential suitors.

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What most people think of when they hear the word “dementia” is memory problems and forgetfulness. But what people often don’t know is that dementia can cause many different symptoms – affecting speech, behaviour, sleep, motor function and more.

In fact, dementia is an umbrella term. There are estimated to be more than 100 types of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common subtype of dementia, affecting approximately 60% of all cases. Memory loss in one of the most common symptoms of this type of dementia.

But approximately 40% of all dementia cases are considered to be different, rarer types. Unfortunately, having a rarer subtype of dementia often makes diagnosis more difficult and requires more complex care.

Although most people might be aware of some types of dementia – including Lewy Body, Parkinson’s disease dementia and frontotemporal dementia – awareness of other rarer types is low.

Knowing how to spot the signs of these rarer types of dementia early could be crucial in ensuring loved ones get the support they need.

Posterior cortical atrophy

Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) affects mostly visual and spatial functioning. Memory is not as badly affected early on as it is in Alzheimer’s disease.

People with PCA can struggle with visual hallucinations and spatial navigation. This can become apparent when reading or judging depth and space on a staircase – making it difficult to judge where the next step is, for example. Symptoms commonly start appearing between the ages of 55 and 65.

There’s still much we don’t know about PCA because of how rare it is. Researchers are still trying to figure out whether PCA is a distinct subtype of dementia or whether it’s an atypical form of Alzheimer’s disease. This is because the brain changes that occur in people with PCA closely resemble those that occur in people with Alzheimer’s disease, although the symptoms are different. It’s also estimated that between 5% to 15% of people with Alzheimer’s have PCA.

Creutzfeld-Jakob disease

Creutzfeld-Jakob disease is a particularly rare form of dementia, affecting about one in 1 million people worldwide.

Creutzfeld-Jakob disease is a prion disease. These diseases involve prion proteins which, for unknown reasons, suddenly change into a three-dimensional shape. The function of healthy prions remains unknown, but they appear to play some role in protecting nerves and brain cells and keeping the body’s circadian rhythm functioning (the natural, 24-hour cycle our body follows that controls everything from sleep, digestions and immunity).

The misfolding of prion proteins in Creutzfeld-Jakob disease causes a very rapid and severe form of dementia, progressing much more quickly than Alzheimer’s disease or Lewy Body dementia, for example. Besides the notably quick nature of progression, people with Creutzfeld-Jakob disease struggle with memory and movement, including sudden jerky movements.

Risk factors for this subtype of dementia include old age and genetics (occurring in 10-15% of cases). In very rare cases, it can also develop as a result of contamination – such as from eating beef from cattle infected with mad cow disease.

FTD-MND

FTD-MND is a form of frontotemporal dementia that occurs alongside motor neurone disease.

Frontotemporal dementia refers to subtypes of the disease that cause gradual brain tissue loss in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain.

À lire aussi :
Bruce Willis has frontotemporal dementia – here’s what we know about the disease

Motor neurone disease, on the other hand, is a rapidly progressing neurological condition which can lead to difficulties breathing, movement and paralysis. Although it affects the brain and nerves, it is not itself a form of dementia.

Approximately 10-15% of people with frontotemporal dementia also develop motor neurone disease. This co-occurence seems to be linked to a mutation in the C9orf72 gene. Because of this genetic link, FTD-MND can run in families.

People with FTD-MND experience several muscle-related issues, including muscle waste, stiffness and problems with swallowing. These are things you would not normally associate with dementia and memory problems.

It’s currently not clear whether frontotemporal dementia develops first and then motor neurone disease, or if it’s the other way around.

Progressive supranuclear palsy

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a rare neurological condition that causes both dementia and problems with movement.

It’s estimated to affect approximately 4,000 people in the UK. PSP is difficult to diagnosis as it overlaps with many other conditions – including Parkinson’s disease.

PSP primarily leads to damage in subcortical brain regions, specifically the brainstem and basal ganglia. These areas are linked to vision and movement.

As such, people with PSP struggle using their eyes and can thus often fall and experience difficulties moving around. People with PSP can also struggle concentrating and problem solving.

Dementia support

As with all dementia subtypes, there is no cure yet. While there are medications that can delay symptoms, these only work in cases of Alzheimer’s disease.

As such, we still need to find ways to support people with other subtypes of dementia as best as possible.

One way of doing this is by properly understanding their condition and their subtype. Knowing that someone might particularly struggle with walking and movement as opposed to memory is important to put the right care in place in advance.

It is just as important to be able to spot the signs early on. Dementia doesn’t just affect memory. Changes in behaviour, problems seeing or falling more frequently, walking or moving differently or difficulty speaking can all be early signs of dementia.

Better understanding dementia’s many forms will hopefully lead to better ways of managing and treating this complex disease.