Opinion: I’m an Alzheimer’s specialist. I still missed it in my own father

An Alzheimer's specialist missed early signs of the disease in her own father, attributing his initial cognitive slips to stress from his demanding work schedule. The author, an expert in Alzheimer's, recounts how her family initially rationalized her father's minor errors. However, a pivotal moment occurred when her father, upon meeting his newborn granddaughter, failed to recognize the family's long-standing pet dog, asking if it was a new acquisition. This incident, occurring in the week following the birth of his second granddaughter, made it impossible for the author to dismiss the cognitive changes any longer. The author's personal experience highlights the difficulty families can face in recognizing and accepting the early symptoms of Alzheimer's, even among those with professional knowledge of the condition. The narrative underscores the subtle nature of early-stage dementia and the tendency to seek external explanations for behavioral shifts that may, in fact, be indicative of underlying neurological decline. The piece emphasizes the emotional and diagnostic challenges inherent in confronting such a diagnosis within one's own family.