A 47-year-old mother from Knoxville, Tennessee, has shared the first signs that led to her diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Staci Marklin began noticing small changes in 2024, soon after giving birth to her son, Gunnar. At the time, she assumed the issues were related to pregnancy or the demands of caring for a newborn.

Her early symptoms were subtle. She found herself mixing up words, saying one thing when she meant another. At first, she dismissed the slip-ups as ordinary “mom brain.” But over time, the forgetfulness grew harder to ignore. She recalled moments when familiar information vanished without warning, including an incident where she could not recognize a co-worker she had worked closely with.

Because her grandmother had Alzheimer’s, Staci eventually wondered whether her symptoms could be connected to something more serious. Even so, she was told the condition would be extremely rare at her age. As the months passed, her concerns grew, and she stopped working while seeking medical answers.

In October 2024, a series of tests confirmed early-onset Alzheimer’s. An amyloid PET scan showed plaque buildup in her brain, and her cognitive scores fell well below what is typical for her age. Staci and her husband were devastated by the diagnosis, knowing their lives had changed in an instant.

She has since begun treatment with lecanemab, sold as Leqembi, and is speaking out about the stigma younger patients face. Staci says many people assume Alzheimer’s affects only older adults, which made it harder for others to believe what she was experiencing. Today, she focuses on creating memories with her family and recording videos for her husband, Erik, and her children to hold onto in the years ahead.