Tennessee mom Staci Marklin was only 47 years old when she learned she had Alzheimer’s disease. At first, she never imagined anything serious was wrong, especially because the earliest symptoms she noticed were not the ones most people associate with dementia.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, Alzheimer’s is a “brain condition that gradually damages memory, thinking, learning, and organizational abilities. It’s the leading cause of dementia, with symptoms typically appearing in people over 65.”
The condition can interfere with or completely erase spatial awareness, behavior and personality, communication, reasoning, and memory. While there is currently no cure, certain medications can help manage symptoms and slow the disease’s progression.
The Cleveland Clinic also notes that people experiencing memory issues or other signs of Alzheimer’s often have trouble recognizing the changes in themselves. Loved ones typically pick up on symptoms first.
When Staci first noticed something was off, her son Gunnar was only two years old. She initially blamed the issues on “mom brain,” assuming her mental fog came from the fatigue and chaos of raising a toddler.
Mom diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s recalls first symptoms
But it wasn’t just exhaustion. Staci had Alzheimer’s — and one of the earliest clues was her tendency to mix up words. She explained to Unilad that she would say things like “move the carpet” instead of “move the curtain.”
“There were moments when parts of my memory just vanished,” she said. “Someone once asked me about a coworker, and I had no idea who they meant. I could tell from how they spoke that it was someone I should know. A few days later, it hit me that it was a coworker I had worked very closely with.”
Staci’s grandmother had suffered from Alzheimer’s as well, and as her symptoms continued, she began to fear she might be facing the same diagnosis. Although one doctor assured her it was extremely rare for someone her age, her instincts were right.
After a series of tests, Staci was officially diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s in October 2024. An amyloid PET scan showed significant amyloid plaque buildup in her brain.
By then, she had already left her job, and seeing the test results made everything real. She and her husband were devastated — crying together as they understood that life would never return to what it had been.
Hoping to end the stigma
Today, Staci is undergoing a newer treatment called lecanemab. She has chosen to be open about her diagnosis on TikTok, using her platform to challenge misconceptions about the illness.
“People tend to see Alzheimer’s as an old person’s disease, and they assume anyone with it is completely incapable of caring for themselves,” she explained. “It was hard to get people to believe my diagnosis and trust the test results.”
Her goal now is to raise awareness, encourage understanding, and show the world that early-onset Alzheimer’s exists — and that people living with it deserve to be heard and taken seriously.