Does alzheimer's ever happen to young people? if someone in their 20s is really forgetful and has trouble remembering to do things, is this a sign of alzheimer's or just something else?

Young : Young people rarely get dementia (alzheimer's is just one type of dementia). If a person was normal, and then their mental abilities start dropping suddenly, this could be a sign of serious illness and they should see a doctor. But if the person just has trouble concentrating and remembering things all the time, it is less likely to be dementia. Sometimes people have undiagnosed attention deficit disorder. Sometimes this can be a sign of depression or substance abuse. Other times people just have trouble with such things, but i would want to be sure it's not one of those others. Add, depression, and substance abuse areal very common in young adults.

Essentially never.: People in their 20s essentially never get alzheimer's. If your forgetfulness is minor, it's probably just normal and/or your life is getting more complicated. This is the most typical explanation. If you feel your symptoms are not minor, you should seek the evaluation of a neurologist.

Something else: The main risk factor for alzheimer's is age. This risk starts around 65 and then increases rapidly. Work with your doctor to find out if there is anything wrong with you.