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Mom, 43, Diagnosed with Early-Onset Alzheimer's
14 Feb
Summary
- A 43-year-old mother received an early-onset Alzheimer's diagnosis.
- Symptoms included word-finding difficulty and memory loss.
- She is undergoing anti-amyloid treatment to slow progression.
Staci Marklin, a mother of two, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's at the age of 43. She initially noticed word-finding difficulties and memory lapses, attributing them to postpartum brain fog. Despite normal initial tests, her persistent concerns led to further cognitive and biomarker testing, revealing the early-onset Alzheimer's diagnosis.
This diagnosis has profoundly impacted Marklin, who expressed heartbreak over potentially not seeing her children grow up. She initially hoped her symptoms were related to perimenopause. The disease affects an estimated 200,000 Americans between ages 30 and 64.
Marklin quit her job in December 2024 and is now receiving Leqembi, an anti-amyloid treatment administered bi-weekly for 18 months to reduce amyloid plaques in the brain. She actively documents her experiences on TikTok, sharing the daily realities of living with the disease.
Her family provides crucial support, with her mother and mother-in-law assisting when her merchant marine husband is away. Marklin describes the challenges of raising a young child while managing her condition and admits to experiencing anxiety and agitation, especially in the evenings.
