Mom, 47, diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease reveals the first symptoms she noticed
A 47-year-old mom who was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's Disease has revealed some of the warning signs she noticed.
Staci Marklin, who lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, first sensed that something was off back in 2024, but had no idea it would be as serious as it turned out.
Alzheimer's disease is a neurological health condition which can impact memory and recognition, and is one of the biggest causes of dementia.
At the time, Staci's son Gunnar was just two years old, so the new mom initially put the symptoms down to pregnancy and having 'mom brain' post-partum.
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Unfortunately, the signs were actually an early symptom of something else.
It was subtle at first, with Staci noticing that she was starting to switch words around for particular things.
She explained: "It's hard to say when the symptoms actually started because I was having them when I was pregnant and post-partum with my son.
"I initially brushed the forgetfulness on pregnancy and postpartum mom brain.
"I would say stuff like 'move the carpet' instead of 'move the curtain'."
At first, this didn't seem like much, but things began to get worse.
"There would be times when things would just disappear from my brain," said Staci.
"Someone once asked me about a co-worker, and I had absolutely no idea who they were talking about.
"I could tell it was someone I should know by the way they were talking.
"It was a few days later when I realized it was a co-worker that I had worked really closely with."
Staci then started to consider Alzheimer's as her grandmother was diagnosed with the disease. However, a doctor apparently said her chances of having it would be 'rare' at her age.
After undergoing a series of tests, Staci was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's in October 2024, with an amyloid PET scan revealing amyloid plaques in her brain.
She admitted: "By the time I was getting these tests, I had already stopped working and I knew something was wrong."
Her cognitive function level came back in the bottom zero percent to 10 percent expected for her age group.
Staci added: "I saw the result and knew what it meant.
"I was with my husband at the time and we were in shock.
"We cried together and knew nothing would ever be the same again."
Now, Staci - who recently started a new treatment, lecanemab, sold under the brand name Leqembi - has spoken out about the stigma faced by patients with Alzheimer's disease.
"People generally see this as an older person's disease and view people with Alzheimer's as if they can't do anything for themselves," she said.
"It was difficult for me to get people to believe me and to trust the results I had gotten."
The mom has been making TikTok videos for her family to remember her by, which also includes her husband of almost 16 years, Erik, 46, and step-daughter, Rylee, 21.
If you've been affected by dementia or Alzheimer's and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact the Alzheimer's Association via 800.272.3900 open 24 hours seven days a week.
Kit Roberts