Just Diagnosed with AD

So, what were your symptoms? For me, it took my falling eight times to see my neurologist, and he said it wasn't the work he did on my spinal fusion but that he saw cloudiness in my brain, and I needed to see a different neurologist. That is when I knew that my genetic past had caught up with me. I am the fourth generation on my mothers side. But they were all in their 70s and 80s. I am 55, but it might have started in my forties.

Did they offer to do a lumbar puncture for the amyloid and tau ratios or genetic testing for ApoE?

My wife who’s 64 was diagnosed in January with MCI after neuro testing with a neuro psychiatrist because she was having trouble finding her words and some trouble with recognizing familiar places when driving. After that diagnosis, they offered genetic testing and lumbar puncture. She does not have the gene that’s associated with increase risk. She did have amyloid and tau ratios that have been shown to be associated with increase risk. So then the diagnosis was updated to MCI with Alzheimer’s pathology. The neurologist submitted the info to our insurance company to approve Lequembi. The insurance company required the PET scan. She had that and that also indicated probable AD. So they approved the request for Leqembi which she will start on October 4.

She’s also taking rivastigmine after having side effects with donepezil. Did they offer you either of those meds?

Since her diagnosis, we’ve been attending a support group twice a month virtually. That seems to be helping us cope. We also went to a lawyer to set up wills and power of attorneys. She’s very functional working a part time job, driving, living mostly a normal life at this point. It’s hard to imagine her progressing. I can’t imagine it happening because she’s very healthy. So far the only thing we’ve identified that might explain this is all the head injuries she’s had over the years (car accidents and sports related).