Rebecca Luna, 48, was living a “fast-paced lifestyle” until she was diagnosed with Early-Onset Alzheimer’s. She shared on her GoFundMe: “This disease is terminal and progressive… I won’t be able to work or live independently forever.” Her symptoms began with forgetfulness, which she blamed on stress. “I opened the computer and didn’t know what to do… There was just nothingness,” she told Yahoo. She once left an egg boiling and returned to find her home filled with smoke. Despite it all, she remains hopeful for herself and her children.

Theresa Pippen, diagnosed at 49, had signs years before: missed commitments, unfinished tasks, and job struggles. Her husband Trey shared on YouTube, “She was starting to spend less time with family… Our marriage started to suffer.” She was demoted, fired, and ended up stacking shelves before receiving her diagnosis. Theresa passed away in March last year.

Fraser, 41 from Australia, began noticing memory gaps in his late 30s. “I watched a movie and had no memory of seeing it a month earlier,” he said on his YouTube channel. Though unsure if that was Alzheimer’s, he admitted, “It was a bit concerning.”

These personal stories highlight the subtle, early signs of a devastating disease.