Mom, 45, diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s warns of unusual symptoms that made her realize something wasn’t right

Warning: This article contains discussion of assisted death which some readers may find distressing.

A mom from California has spoken out about the concerning symptoms she experienced prior to being diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's at just 45 years old.

When you think of Alzheimer's disease, which impairs memory and the ability to carry out even simple tasks, chances are your mind goes to an elderly person.

The risk of developing the condition is thought to increase with old age, but Samantha Walker, and many other people like her, are proof that Alzheimer's disease isn't limited to the elderly.

Samantha, who goes by Sam on her GoFundMe page, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's in April 2025.

In an interview with UNILAD, Sam explained that she was left feeling 'shocked and confused' when she received her diagnosis, but looking back she can point to the worrying instances that led her to visit the doctor in the first place.

Sam described having struggles with her working memory, even 'forgetting entire conversations that had happened'.

Sam began forgetting entire conversations (Samantha Walker)

She recalled: "My roommate asked me if I had finished a chore he asked me to do, and I had no idea what he was talking about, even though we had discussed it just the day prior.

"I was able to watch a movie one day, and then watch it again the next day, still being surprised by the twists. I was losing words at an alarming rate, and struggling to keep up with conversations. I could be in the middle of a conversation and then forget what we were talking about, like my brain was a Etch A Sketch that someone just shook."

These situations would be worrying to anyone, but Sam was even more concerned about her health due to the fact that she has a family history of Alzheimer's.

"I tried to tell myself that my symptoms were normal, or just menopause," she recalled. "But my symptoms were more severe than that, and my intuition told me something was wrong."

Sam made an appointment with her doctor and was sent on to a neurologist. After several scans and tests, she received her diagnosis.

Despite now knowing what was causing her memory issues, Sam claimed that she received little information from her doctor on her condition.

"My only resource for understanding my diagnosis was Google," she said. "Once I understood that this disease was happening *right now*, I was devastated."

Samantha was devastated when she received her diagnosis (Samantha Walker)

Sam began thinking about the 'curse' that had been put on her family, explaining: "My 17-year-old son was going to lose me before he has a chance to grow up. My partner was going to be left alone after the heartbreaking process of being my caregiver. Everyone I love was going to be taken from me slowly, one day at a time, until I became like the walking dead."

The mom admitted that she looked into the concept of assisted death after her diagnosis as she hoped to 'spare [her] family the pain', but thankfully she has since been able to turn her attention to the more positive things in life.

"I have realized the power of joy, community, and family," she said. "Instead of spending my days lamenting over my inevitable tragic death, I focused on moments of joy. Playing with my dog, watching my son grow into a man, catching up with an old friend over coffee."

Sam has learned that the average lifespan for someone with Alzheimer's is eight-10 years after diagnosis, with some people living as long as 20 years.

However, she's noted that doctors 'have no idea how many of those years will be good'.

With her disease still in its early stages, Sam is determined to remain active in life.

Samantha has called for more support for patients with early-onset Alzheimer's (Samantha Walker)

However, she's noticed that her diagnosis has had an impact on how people see her, saying: "I've noticed that a lot of people have written me off. They've disappeared from my life or they've begun to treat me like a child."

Addressing this kind of behavior, she added: "Please don't do that, we are still adults and we deserve to be treated as such. My disease is still in the very early stages, and I want to be an active part of my life while I still can."

Sam is now raising money on GoFundMe to help cover the costs of gas for her trips to go and get treatment, as well as 'basic needs, home modifications, and the ability to access resources and pay bills while the dust settles a little bit'.

She also hopes to raise awareness for the lack of social and emotional support for patients with early-onset Alzheimer's, expressing hope that more options will become available for patients alongside the support available for caregivers.

If you'd like to donate to Sam's GoFundMe, you can do so here.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.

If you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Helpline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.