LauraLee Denler watched her mother face Alzheimer's with no support systems, no clear guidance, and very little hope. When she received her own diagnosis in 2023, she feared the same lonely road ahead. Instead, she found something her mother never had: time. Writing in the Hartford Courant, Denler shares how early diagnosis transformed her story from one of fear into one of intention.

From the Hartford Courant, by LauraLee Denler:

"Today, early diagnosis has changed everything. It gave me something my mother never had: time. Time to understand what was happening to my brain instead of blindly fearing it. Time to make decisions about my future — financially, medically, and personally — while I am still fully capable. And time to seek out therapies that could improve my quality of life."

"Soon after my diagnosis, I enrolled in a large clinical trial, and it wasn't long before I began to notice positive changes. At the start of the trial, I was interviewed by the researchers, and I couldn't tell them where I was. By the end, I could give them the exact address — plus the names of the people in the room."

"Perhaps most importantly, my early diagnosis pushed me to take ownership of my health in ways I never had before. I committed to moving my body as much as I can, participating in hot yoga, pickleball, hiking, kayaking, or running every day. I practice meditation. I eat healthily and stay hydrated. I read as much as I can."

"We are in a new era of Alzheimer's care — one where early diagnosis is possible, where research is advancing, and where people are speaking openly about their experiences. The silence and isolation that defined my mother's generation are beginning to lift."

"An early diagnosis expands what is possible. It gives you the chance to plan, to explore new treatments, to build a support system, and to live with greater intention. An Alzheimer's diagnosis does not have to be the end of your story. For me, it was the starting line."

LauraLee Denler's piece in the Hartford Courant is a moving reminder that an Alzheimer's diagnosis, caught early, can be the beginning of a fuller life rather than the end of one. Read her full commentary here.

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