Three weeks living with an early onset dementia diagnosis
Processing life changes, honest reflections, and navigating a life-altering medical journey one day at a time at sixty years old.
Where it all started and how everything changed
It started for me on September 18, 2025. The previous day, I had undergone a routine prostate biopsy, where the doctor warned that about 4% of people contract an infection. On the 18th, I woke up feeling exhausted and sore. By mid-afternoon, my fever rose from 101 to 104 degrees, and by early evening I was rushed to the hospital with sepsis. Everything changed from that exact moment. My speech, memory, and balance were severely impaired. For months afterward, I went through speech therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and traditional counselling. Almost a year later, speech and memory issues still linger. On top of that, the biopsy came back positive for prostate cancer—a double blow at 60 years old.
The quiet relief of an answer three weeks ago
Just three weeks ago, I received my official diagnosis of early onset dementia from the neurologist. Receiving that diagnosis at 60 was an incredibly tough pill to swallow, yet hearing the words brought an unexpected sense of relief. After endless months of struggling, wondering, and undergoing continuous rehabilitation without a definitive reason, I finally know what I am dealing with. Having a clear diagnosis gives me a focal point to face each day with clarity rather than uncertainty.
What I have learned and what touches us all
What I have learned through these initial weeks is that everyone carries burdens—some simply more pressing than others. Dementia does not just affect the person diagnosed; it ripples out and deeply impacts family, friends, and loved ones. Sharing this raw journey daily is my way of connecting with others walking a similar road, reminding us all that we do not have to carry the weight alone.