Cindy Leonard, a longtime Mayo Clinic nurse and nurse educator, was diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2018. It’s an uncommon form of dementia that affects those under 65.

Health care providers often don’t look for the disease in younger patients, so they often are misdiagnosed and don’t receive support, explains Dr. Jonathan Graff-Radford, a Mayo Clinic neurologist.

A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease can feel crushing for those affected and their families. Cindy’s husband, Charlie Leonard, says they are living their life the best that they can, and it’s OK to talk about Alzheimer’s disease.
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