A mother attributed her memory lapses to postpartum “mum brain” before receiving a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s at 46 years old. Staci Marklin, now 47, identified the progressive disease when her son, Gunnar, was just two years old. Initially attributing her mild memory issues to pregnancy and postpartum experiences, Staci, a former nurse from Knoxville, Tennessee, gradually faced increased difficulty with speech and cognition, leading to her diagnosis following a brain scan.
Despite concerns about Alzheimer’s due to her grandmother’s history with the disease, Staci was initially told by a doctor that early-onset dementia was unlikely at her age. However, her symptoms persisted and worsened, affecting her ability to remember details like her son’s birthday and encountering challenges in her professional life.
Following various tests showing initially normal results, further evaluations revealed elevated blood markers associated with Alzheimer’s. In October 2024, an amyloid PET scan confirmed the presence of amyloid plaques in Staci’s brain, leading to her official diagnosis. Struggling with disbelief from others due to misconceptions about the disease being exclusive to older individuals, Staci expressed the challenges of gaining acceptance and trust in her diagnosis.
Preparing for the future, Staci has started documenting memories for her family, including her husband and step-daughter, through videos on social media. She has also commenced a new treatment named lecanemab, aimed at addressing early-onset Alzheimer’s by targeting harmful brain plaques. Despite the treatment not being available through the NHS in the UK, Staci remains hopeful for positive outcomes from the therapy, which has shown promise in slowing cognitive decline in patients with the condition.
Navigating life post-diagnosis, Staci remains optimistic, cherishing moments with her family and creating lasting memories for her son to hold onto in the future.
