In July 2005, at the age of 47, I was diagnosed with Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease (EOAD), but because of my age, my neurologist wanted me to get a 2nd opinion. I was also told that my pet scan resembled an Alzheimer's patient.
After seeing another neurologist, my diagnosis was changed to MCI which is Mild Cognitive Impairment. This diagnosis means that I probably don't have dementia, but sometimes my brain does not function normally for my age. It mostly affects my short term memory, but sometimes it can affect my long term memory.
I think that I remember having the following tests done: blood work, MRI, sleep deprived EEG, sleep study & a pet scan. I was told that my pet scan resembled an Alzheimer's patient. The pet scan showed definite hypo metabolism in the temporal lobes bilaterally & very possibly but less severely in the parietal lobes. The 1st diagnosis was mostly based on these test results.
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My symptoms at the time of diagnosis were these: my family was always complaining because I was constantly repeating myself, yet I had no recollection of the conversation. I also would occasionally get lost in places that were otherwise familiar to me. I guess my biggest problem was word retrieval. I could be in the middle of a sentence, such as at lunchtime with a co-workers, & I would not be able to finish my sentence. I just couldn't find the word that I needed. This was happening pretty much on a daily basis. I think that my family & I can trace my symptoms back to the fall of 1999.