A woman attributed her memory lapses to postpartum “mom brain” before being diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s at 46 years old. Staci Marklin, now 47, learned about her condition when her son Gunnar was just two. Initially, she attributed her forgetfulness to pregnancy and postpartum symptoms.
However, as time passed, her struggle with finding words intensified, leading to a brain scan and subsequent diagnosis. Staci, a former hospice nurse, expressed disbelief due to her young age and the onset of symptoms during pregnancy and postpartum.
Despite medical reassurances initially, Staci’s memory issues persisted, prompting concerns about Alzheimer’s, given her family history. Eventually, tests revealed elevated Alzheimer’s markers, culminating in an official diagnosis in October 2024.
Facing skepticism due to misconceptions about Alzheimer’s, Staci began preparing for the future by creating videos for her family. She also embarked on a new treatment, lecanemab, aimed at slowing cognitive decline, with hopes of being a success story in the ongoing study.
Although the treatment is not available through the NHS in the UK, Staci remains optimistic, focusing on making lasting memories with her loved ones.