Most people think Alzheimer’s only touches old age. Retirement years. Quiet living rooms. Fading memories at the end of a long life.
But for thousands of families, that belief shatters far earlier than anyone expects.
Early-onset Alzheimer’s can strike in your 40s or 50s — right in the middle of careers, parenting, and planning a future. It doesn’t wait for “later.” It interrupts life in real time.
That’s what happened to Rebecca Luna.
Two years ago, she was balancing work, raising two children, and moving through life at full speed. At 48, her days were full and demanding — the kind of busy that feels productive and familiar. Then came a diagnosis that rewrote everything: early-onset Alzheimer’s.
Today, Rebecca shares her reality openly through short videos on TikTok, heartfelt updates on GoFundMe, and a personal letter published by Yahoo. She isn’t sharing for sympathy. She’s sharing so people understand what this disease really does — and how early it can take hold.
“I’m facing a rare form of Alzheimer’s,” she wrote. “It’s progressive and terminal. I’m doing everything I can to live fully right now, but I know I won’t always be able to work, live independently, or support myself.”
Her fundraiser isn’t just about medical care. It’s about protecting her children’s future as her own independence slowly fades. The disease doesn’t just steal memory — it chips away at stability, security, and identity.
GoFundMe
The first signs were easy to dismiss
At first, Rebecca brushed off the changes. Stress happens. Burnout happens. Forgetfulness feels normal in a busy life.
Then one morning at work, she sat down at her computer — and her routine vanished.
The tasks she’d done for years felt unfamiliar. The steps were gone. The mental map she relied on every day had disappeared. That blank moment wasn’t exhaustion. It was the first undeniable signal something was wrong.
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