A mother from California has opened up about the concerning symptoms she experienced prior to receiving an early-onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis at the age of 45.

When you think of Alzheimer’s disease, which hinders memory and the ability to perform even simple activities, you most likely see an elderly person.

The likelihood of having the ailment is considered to rise with age, but Samantha Walker and many other people like her demonstrate that Alzheimer’s disease isn’t only for the elderly.

Samantha, known as Sam on her GoFundMe website, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s in April 2025.

In an interview with UNILAD, Sam revealed that she was shocked and puzzled when she received her diagnosis, but that looking back, she can pinpoint the disturbing incidents that prompted her to contact the doctor in the first place.

Sam noted difficulties with her working memory, including ‘forgetting whole discussions that had transpired.’

She recalled, “My roommate asked me whether I had accomplished a work he assigned me, and I had no idea what he was talking about, although we had just discussed it the day before.

“I was able to see a movie one day and then watch it again the following day, still amazed by the plot twists. I was rapidly losing words and finding it difficult to keep up with the talks. I might be in the middle of a discussion and then forget what we were talking about, as if my brain were an Etch A Sketch that had just been shaken.”

These scenarios would alarm anybody, but Sam was especially concerned about her health because her family had a history of Alzheimer’s.

“I tried to tell myself that my symptoms were normal or just menopause,” according to her. “But my symptoms were more severe than that, and my intuition told me something was wrong.”

Sam scheduled a visit with her doctor, who referred her to a neurologist. Her diagnosis came after multiple scans and tests.

Despite understanding the cause of her memory problems, Sam reported that her doctor provided little information about her illness.

“My only resource for understanding my diagnosis was Google,” she told me. “Once I understood that this disease was happening right now, I was devastated.”

Sam began to reflect on the ‘curse’ that had been placed on her family, explaining, “My 17-year-old son would lose me before he had a chance to grow up. The terrible process of caring for me would leave my spouse alone. Everyone I loved was going to be taken away from me one day at a time, until I was like the walking dead.”

The mother revealed that following her diagnosis, she considered assisted suicide in order to spare [her] family the anguish,’ but she has since been able to focus on the more positive aspects of life.

“I have realized the power of joy, community, and family,” she told me. “Rather than wasting my days bemoaning my impending sad demise, I concentrated on moments of delight. Playing with my dog, watching my kid mature into a man, and reconnecting with an old buddy over coffee.”

Sam has learned that the typical longevity for someone with Alzheimer’s is eight to ten years following diagnosis, with some lasting up to twenty years.

However, she has stated that physicians “have no idea how many of those years will be good.”

Sam is determined to live an active life despite her sickness being in its early stages.

However, she has seen that her diagnosis has influenced how people perceive her, stating, “I’ve noticed that many people have written me off.” They’ve either left my life or started treating me like a child.”

She said, “Please don’t do that; we are still grown-ups and deserve to be treated as such,” addressing this behavior. My sickness is still in its early stages, and I want to live an active life while I can.

Sam is currently raising funds on GoFundMe to help cover the costs of petrol for her therapy visits, as well as necessities, house improvements, and the ability to access resources and pay bills while the situation stabilizes.

She also aims to raise awareness about the absence of social and emotional support for people with early-onset Alzheimer’s and hopes that new choices, in addition to caregiver assistance, will become accessible.