A woman attributed her memory lapses to postpartum “mum brain” before being diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s at 46 years old. Staci Marklin, now 47, from Knoxville, Tennessee, first noticed her memory issues when her son, Gunnar, was just two years old. Initially, she thought her forgetfulness was due to pregnancy and postpartum adjustments.
Over time, Staci’s struggles with finding words worsened, leading to a brain scan that confirmed her Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Despite initially attributing her memory lapses to pregnancy-related factors, Staci’s symptoms persisted even after nearly two years post-delivery. Concerns heightened as her grandmother had Alzheimer’s, prompting Staci to seek medical advice.
While a doctor initially reassured her about the unlikelihood of early-onset dementia, Staci’s symptoms persisted and intensified. Subsequent tests, including MRIs and blood work, revealed elevated markers associated with Alzheimer’s disease. In October 2024, an amyloid PET scan confirmed the presence of amyloid plaques in her brain, leading to an official diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s.
Facing challenges in convincing others of her diagnosis due to misconceptions surrounding Alzheimer’s being an older person’s disease, Staci is proactive in planning for the future. She has begun documenting memories through videos for her family and has commenced a new treatment named lecanemab, aimed at slowing cognitive decline in early-onset Alzheimer’s patients.
Although the treatment is not accessible through the NHS in the UK, Staci remains hopeful about its potential benefits. Despite uncertainties, Staci remains optimistic, cherishing moments with her family and creating lasting memories for her son to cherish in the future.
