Staci Marklin reveals early-onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis and daily struggles while raising children in the United States

At just 43, Staci Marklin noticed things weren’t quite right.

A woman known for her meticulous organization and razor-sharp memory, she began struggling with simple tasks like finding the right words or switching between them smoothly.

At first, she chalked it up to postpartum brain fog after having her youngest child.

“I had difficulty finding words and word switching,” Staci recalled.

“I started noticing symptoms when my son was young, but figured it was just postpartum.”

But as short-term memory lapses and trouble multitasking began piling up, she knew she couldn’t ignore it anymore.

The Doctor Said Nothing Was Wrong

Marklin, who shares a 21-year-old daughter and a three-year-old son with her husband Erik, underwent a series of tests.

The initial results all came back normal.

Mild cognitive impairment was flagged in later tests, but there was no clear warning of anything more serious.

Yet she couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something was off.

With a family history of Alzheimer’s — her grandmother had suffered from it — she pushed her doctor further, asking for an Alzheimer’s biomarker test.

Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

The results were devastating.

Blood biomarker testing and an amyloid PET scan revealed the truth: Staci had early-onset Alzheimer’s.

“I was a wreck, I knew nothing would ever be the same again,” she told the Daily Mail.

“The most heartbreaking part was I knew I wouldn’t see my son grow up or watch my daughter have kids of her own. I was pretty shocked.”

Initially, she had hoped her symptoms were related to perimenopause.

Even after the possibility of Alzheimer’s crossed her mind, she admits, “I didn’t really think I had it.”

Alzheimer’s disease affects memory, thinking, and behavior, gradually interfering with daily life.

Today, over seven million Americans live with the condition, and that number is projected to nearly double by 2050.

Younger-onset dementia affects around 110 people per 100,000 between ages 30 and 64, equating to roughly 200,000 Americans.

Treatment and Daily Struggles

After her diagnosis, Marklin left her job in December 2024 and began an anti-amyloid treatment called Leqembi, designed to slow the disease’s progression.

“Leqembi is an infusion given every other week for 18 months,” she explained.

“It is proven to lessen or remove the amyloid plaque in the brain.”

Symptoms like brain fog, exhaustion, and confusion remain daily hurdles.

Staci jokes that she and her toddler share a trait: difficulty regulating emotions.

“When people are talking, it doesn’t confuse me, but it feels like I can’t keep up and it’s exhausting,” she said.

“I’m just all day losing things. Did I already say this? Have I already done this?”

She also described living with the constant dread of worsening memory.

“I’m always waiting for the ball to drop.

When that day happens, it’s the beginning of the end.

I feel like I’m just constantly waiting for that.”

Life After Work

Leaving her nursing job left a void.

“I feel like I don’t matter anymore,” she admitted. “I’m not doing anything.

I feel like I will just never do anything important ever again.”

Life at home has shifted dramatically.

Her husband works as a merchant marine, away half the year, so her mother and mother-in-law rotate helping with the children.

“I don’t want to be alone anymore,” she said.

“I have a very difficult time in the evening.

I get anxious and agitated easily. I have a routine and I stick to it.

With that and all the family support, everything is flowing well.”

Raising a toddler while battling Alzheimer’s has been particularly tough.

“My toddler was two when I was diagnosed.

Raising a toddler while dealing with this awful disease is hard.”

Sharing Her Story

Staci now shares her journey on TikTok under the username tryingnottoforget, opening up about her struggles and triumphs with honesty and humor.

Her candid posts aim to help others understand what life with early-onset Alzheimer’s looks like day to day.

What’s Next?

For Staci, the immediate focus is maintaining stability, sticking to treatment, and creating a predictable routine for herself and her family.

Advocacy and awareness have become central too — her TikTok presence allows her to reach others who might be experiencing similar challenges.

While the path ahead is uncertain, Marklin emphasizes the importance of family, structure, and small daily victories.

She is committed to making the most of each day, despite the disease’s progression.

Summary

Staci Marklin, a 47-year-old former nurse and mother of two, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s after noticing cognitive difficulties in her early 40s.

Initial tests showed only mild impairment, but further biomarker testing confirmed the disease.

She has since left her job and started anti-amyloid treatment with Leqembi to slow progression.

Daily life involves challenges with memory, brain fog, and exhaustion, but she relies on family support and documents her journey on TikTok to raise awareness and help others facing similar struggles.