When 47-year-old mother of two, Sarah Mitchell, began experiencing small lapses in memory, she never imagined they were signs of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. What started as simple forgetfulness soon progressed into symptoms she could no longer ignore.

Sarah recalls that the first red flag appeared when she began misplacing everyday items — her keys, her phone, even groceries she had just bought. At first, she blamed stress, exhaustion, or just being busy with work and family life. But things gradually grew more unsettling.

“I would walk into a room and completely forget why I went there,” she said. “Not just distracted — completely blank. It felt like pieces of my day were disappearing.”

Another early symptom was difficulty finding words. Sarah noticed she would stop mid-sentence, unable to recall names of familiar objects. “I knew what I wanted to say, but the words just wouldn’t come,” she explained.

Her family grew increasingly worried when she began struggling with tasks she’d done for years, such as following recipes, paying bills, or navigating familiar routes while driving. “That was when I realized something was very wrong,” Sarah said.

After several medical evaluations, Sarah received the shocking diagnosis: early-onset Alzheimer’s, a rare but aggressive form of the disease that can appear decades earlier than typical cases.

Though the diagnosis was heartbreaking, Sarah hopes that sharing the early symptoms she noticed will help others seek help sooner. “If you feel like something is off, don’t ignore it. Listen to your instincts. Early detection can make such a difference,” she said.

Today, Sarah and her family are adjusting to a new reality, focusing on treatment, memory-support strategies, and making the most of each moment together.