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The Younger Faces of Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias By Sheryl Stillman
For many people over 40, experiencing moments of forgetfulness is not all that uncommon and, daresay, almost expected. Often, we blame these random occurrences on information overload, the effects of menopause, or dismiss it as part of the aging process. True, memory loss could result from any of those scenarios, but it may also signal a more serious underlying condition. According to the World Health Organization, Alzheimer's, dementias, and other cognitive impairments have been deemed a public health priority with more than 55 million affected worldwide. In the U.S., approximately six million people currently live with Alzheimer's, the most prevalent of the dementias. While the majority fall into the 65+ age group, a growing number, about 10%, are experiencing Young-Onset Alzheimer's (also known as Early- Onset), between the ages of 30 and 60. "Things started taking me two to three times longer to do and it really hit me something was wrong when presenting at a meeting. I completely lost what I was supposed to say," said Deb Jobe, 56, of St. Louis, Missouri. When Jobe was 53 years old, her husband noticed she often forgot things. "I took care of our checkbook and missed paying bills here and there," said Jobe. At the time, she worked for a global human capital management firm and was responsible for clients' overall customer experience. After that fateful meeting, Jobe decided it was time to see her primary care physician (PCP). She credits her doctor with not discounting her symptoms as menopause and sending her for a neuropsychological consult.
Deb Jobe and her husband Jon
A battery of cognitive assessments revealed Jobe has Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA), progressive degeneration of the brain's outer layer. This specific type of dementia most often affects those between the ages of 50 and 65. “Things started taking me two to three times longer to do and it really hit me something was wrong when presenting at a meeting. I completely lost what I was supposed to say.” "I had my perception of what Alzheimer's looked like, and it certainly wasn't me," said Jobe. "If we can dispel what Alzheimer's looks like, share the many faces, and help people recognize symptoms as early as possible, they can have a higher quality of life for longer. I am a person still providing value — don't put me in a box yet."
Read more stories like this on NextAvenue.org.
Photo credit: Courtesy of Deb Jobe
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NEXTAVENUE.ORG
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