A 47-year-old mother from Tennessee has revealed her heartbreaking journey to an early-onset Alzheimer's diagnosis after medical professionals repeatedly dismissed her concerns about concerning symptoms.
The First Warning Signs
Staci Marklin, who worked as a nurse specialising in geriatric care, first noticed subtle memory issues during her pregnancy in 2022. Initially, she attributed these lapses to exhaustion from both expecting her first child and working demanding long shifts.
However, by August 2024, her symptoms became more pronounced. "I would say 'curtain' instead of 'carpet' for example," Staci explained during an interview. Her professional background in nursing made her particularly aware that these language difficulties warranted medical attention.
A Year-Long Battle for Diagnosis
Despite having a family history of Alzheimer's through her grandmother and recognising the potential seriousness of her symptoms, Staci faced significant obstacles in obtaining a proper diagnosis. Her primary care physician, whom she describes as wonderful, referred her to a neurology group specialising in memory disorders.
"All the providers I saw said early onset Alzheimer's would be so rare at my age," Staci recalled. Multiple medical professionals dismissed her concerns, emphasising the condition's rarity in someone her age.
As an experienced nurse, Staci knew how to advocate for herself and pushed for comprehensive testing. Despite initial tests returning normal results, she persisted in seeking answers about her cognitive changes.
Life After Diagnosis
In March 2025, seven months after first seeking medical help, Staci received the devastating confirmation: early-onset Alzheimer's disease. The diagnosis came as she and her husband were building their dream home in Tennessee, far from their family support network.
"We were devastated," Staci shared. "We began to grieve the life we had planned and started planning our new future around this diagnosis."
The condition has significantly impacted her ability to care for her three-year-old son. Her short-term memory has deteriorated, leading to situations where she would change a nappy and immediately forget having done so. "Being a full-time toddler mum while juggling Alzheimer's symptoms can be challenging," she admitted.
Staci also struggles with emotional regulation, finding herself easily irritated and agitated. Communication difficulties vary from day to day, and she now requires constant supervision when caring for her son as a safety precaution.
Finding Strength Through Sharing
After initially feeling embarrassed about her diagnosis, Staci has embraced sharing her journey on TikTok, where her videos have garnered hundreds of thousands of views. She aims to challenge misconceptions that Alzheimer's only affects elderly populations and that patients become completely dependent.
"All Alzheimer's patients don't look the same," Staci emphasised. With advances in diagnostic testing enabling earlier detection, she hopes the disease will eventually be viewed as treatable rather than a death sentence.
Through her social media presence, Staci has found a supportive community of people facing similar challenges. "I no longer feel alone," she said, offering reassurance to others navigating similar health journeys that they too are not alone in their struggle.
