Frederick County resident Ed Sorensen enjoyed public speaking during his career as a safety specialist at the National Institutes of Health, from which he recently retired after 20 years.  
 
“I'd pick people out of the room and talk without any notes,” Ed said.
 
A Penn State graduate with a major in biology, Ed talked about his position overseeing the safety procedures at two Institutes of Health and his passion and knack for presenting in front of large groups.
 
He smiled as he described the comfort and enjoyment he felt picking people out at random during group presentations. Along with his federal government employment history, Ed's past includes time in the U.S. Navy as a nuclear power plant operator for six years during the Vietnam War. He is a fix-it guy, able to do home remodeling and renovations along a multitude of hands-on projects.
 
It would surprise most that Ed Sorensen, a self-confident and easy-going baby boomer, now retired and seemingly ready for the future, was diagnosed with younger-onset dementia in January 2007. Ed, now 62, began noticing early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in 2005 when he was 58.
 
“I just couldn't remember things,” said Ed, who also acknowledged his frustration with trying to find the right word when communicating. Thankfully, Ed was able to continue working towards retirement age. He relied on written cues to help him remember at the workplace. He was fortunate to have a supportive boss who valued his previous contributions. However, it became increasingly difficult, and despite compensating for his loss of memory, his co-workers began to notice changes. Still functioning but worried, Ed says he pondered on how he would keep his job, the financial future of his family, and the impact of his diagnosis on his wife and daughters.
 
“Going to the doctor makes me feel stupid,” Ed said. He has become increasingly unable to recall words spoken to him during bi-annual assessments.
 
Ed is supported by Carol, his wife of 27 years. A New Jersey native like Ed, Carol met him in Washington, D.C. and fell in love. A social worker by training, she admits to her own protective denial for several months after the diagnosis, when she hoped for any other explanation than Alzheimer's for her husband's memory problems.
 
The couple is frustrated by the limited effective treatment options offered today. Carol worries about how to continue to “support the man I've loved for 30 years who was now facing some scary possibilities.” She recognizes the need for support and appreciates opportunities through the Alzheimer's Association to advocate for better treatments and, eventually, a cure. She hopes to eliminate the scare factor and support others along the way, and she has been very grateful for the Alzheimer's Association's younger-onset support group in Hagerstown.
 
Joining Ed at the Alzheimer's Association Frederick office were his 17 year-old twin daughters, Tegan and Hope. The young women, not merely focused on packing and preparing to leave for college in a few days, were clearly supportive and proud of Dad. Hope smiled and acknowledged that some friends knew about Alzheimer's disease, but from the perspective of grandchildren, not children. Tegan said she tries not to dwell on it, and prefers to “live in the moment” as much as possible.
 
Just 15 and a half when their dad was diagnosed, each twin reacted to and accepted the diagnosis in her own personal way. Tegan and Hope are remarkable teenagers whose life experience will enlighten, inspire and raise much-needed awareness to reduce the stigma of younger-onset dementia. Ed is clearly proud of his daughters and maintains hope that new research will eventually lead to a world without Alzheimer's.
 
Of the 5.3 million Americans living with Alzheimer's disease, it is estimated that up to 500,000 of them have younger-onset dementia. Symptoms of younger-onset dementia appear before age 65, even as young as in one's 50s, 40s and, in rare cases, 30s.
 
The Alzheimer's Association connects people living with dementia to educational opportunities and supportive services through a variety of programs. In Maryland, the Alzheimer's Association organizes an annual younger-onset dementia conference, which is specifically designed for people living with younger-onset Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, their care partners, and anyone else interested in the topic. There are also support groups and forums designed to help the person with dementia and their care partner manage their quality of life. The Alzheimer's Association will launch a support group for people diagnosed with early-stage dementia and caregivers in January.
 
For more information about services the Alzheimer's Association offers, please call 301.696.0315 or the 27/7 Helpline at 1.800.272.3900, or visit www.alz.org/maryland <http://www.alz.org/maryland> .
 
 
10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s
 
1. Memory changes that disrupt daily life.
This is the most common sign, especially in the early stages. Forgetting dates, asking for the same information over and over, and relying on memory aides.
 
2. Challenges in planning or solving problems.
Some people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers.
 
3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure.
People with Alzheimer's often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes, people may have trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work or remembering the rules of a favorite game.
 
4. Confusion with time or place.
People with Alzheimer's can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there.
 
5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships.
For some people, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer's. They may have difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast. In terms of perception, they may pass a mirror and think someone else is in the room. They may not realize they are the person in the mirror.
 
6. New problems with words in speaking or writing.
People with Alzheimer's may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have problems finding the right word or call things by the wrong name (e.g., calling a "watch" a "hand-clock").
 
7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps.
A person with Alzheimer's disease may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. Sometimes, they may accuse others of stealing. This may occur more frequently over time.
 
8. Decreased or poor judgment.
People with Alzheimer's may experience changes in judgment or decision-making. They may use poor judgment when dealing with money. They may pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean.
 
9. Withdrawal from work or social activities.
A person with Alzheimer's may start to remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports. They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite sports team or remembering how to complete a favorite hobby. They may also avoid being social because of the changes they have experienced.
 
10. Changes in mood and personality.
The mood and personalities of people with Alzheimer's can change. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places where they are out of their comfort zone.