It’s a disease more commonly associated with our elderly, but dementia is now the leading cause of death for Australians, and it can strike far earlier than you think.

Craig ‘Moose’ Moore was a high-flying advertising executive, ocean swimmer and is dad to Phoebe and partner of Vogue Managing Editor Louise Bryant.

“He was just full of, full of life. He didn’t just, you know, I’ve said this before. He didn’t just embrace life. He ran at it,” she said.

Craig 'Moose' Moore was a high-flying advertising executive, ocean swimmer and is dad to Phoebe and partner of Vogue Managing Editor Louise Bryant.Craig ‘Moose’ Moore was a high-flying advertising executive, ocean swimmer and is dad to Phoebe and partner of Vogue Managing Editor Louise Bryant. (Nine)

But a decade ago, at the age of just 46, Moose’s world shattered.

He was diagnosed with early onset dementia.

“We were sort of given a diagnosis, but after that nothing. We weren’t given any information about dementia, and in fact, it was never discussed, and we sort of were fumbling along,” Louise said.

Craig 'Moose' Moore was a high-flying advertising executive, ocean swimmer and is dad to Phoebe and partner of Vogue Managing Editor Louise Bryant.A decade ago, at the age of just 46, Moose’s world shattered. (Nine)

Over the next few years Moose’s mind repeatedly let him down.

“He wouldn’t turn up to things… he would skip things that were really important to him, and he’d make up stories,” Louise said.

As the disease progressed, Louise realised she could no longer care for Moose on her own.

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