Sunday, February 16, 2025
49 F
Roseville

Discussing Alzheimer’s Disease

Many Americans feel Alzheimer’s disease shouldn’t be talked about. But 80-year-old, Pennsylvania native Mimi Steffen isn’t ashamed to say she has it. She was diagnosed five years ago and is now an Alzheimer’s Association spokesperson.

The Alzheimer’s Association website defines Alzheimer’s disease as a progressive, fatal brain disease affecting about five million Americans. It destroys brain cells, causing memory, thinking and behavior problems. It’s the sixth-leading cause of death in the U.S.

“My initial symptoms were mostly in not being able to remember things, particularly people’s names,” said Steffen in a telephone interview. “It was very selective. Some people’s names I could always remember and others I saw just as frequently I couldn’t. I could be going on an errand and forget where I was going. One symptom getting my attention was when I was trying to speak and couldn’t come up with the right word for an object. For instance, one incident was when I was cooking dinner and my kids were there. I wanted to drain the pasta and couldn’t come up with the right word for a colander. So I said, ‘Where is that thing?'”

She was becoming worried about having Alzheimer’s disease because several relatives also had experienced it. Eventually, a doctor diagnosed her. “My first reaction was tears,” she said. “At first, I questioned the doctor because I knew you couldn’t (completely) diagnose Alzheimer’s disease until postmortem. But the doctor said the pattern I exhibited on the tests was the pattern Alzheimer’s patients exhibit.”

It was around Christmas when she learned. She gathered her children to tell them. They were shocked, and then discussed the situation openly. One child now handles her bank account and another drives her to doctors appointments.

She said she was able to successfully “zap” the disease early on with help from medication, eating a “Mediterranean” diet, physical therapy, keeping mentally active through historical society work, and volunteering for the Alzheimer’s Association and an agency helping sexually abused women.

Today, she has fewer symptoms than five years ago. Now she seldom forgets where she is going when on trips, is doing much better with the names of people and things, and often realizes early on when reading a book that she has read it before.

She said, “My message is that if people exhibiting symptoms go and get tested, maybe they can ‘zap’ it the way I have.”



Brighter Side

Trending

Find the lowest gas prices in Roseville, Rocklin, & Lincoln

Roseville, Calif. - Gas prices continue to hover around the $5 per gallon mark at many locations around South Placer County.

Open: Auburn Library’s temporary location

Auburn, Calif. - The Auburn Library has opened its new temporary location with modified services and the same helpful, friendly staff to help patrons navigate materials and lead library programming.

❤️Valentine’s or a Scam? Roseville PD reminds you to protect yourself against romance fraudsters

Roseville, Calif.- It's a new year. Are you or a family member looking for that someone special in 2025? Now, more than ever, people are using their smart phone for almost everything, including finding their soul mate

IICA Speech in Roseville

Our knowledgeable and compassionate team provides speech, language, cognitive, social, and feeding services to enhance the quality of our clients’ lives while empowering their caregivers through our unique team approach.

Sierra College President Willy Duncan earns international recognition for economic development efforts

In recognition of his efforts on the team to bring BOSCH to Placer County and his leadership with the Greater Sacramento Economic Council, Sierra College Superintendent and President Willy Duncan has been named the recipient of the 2024 Community Partner Award

Topics

Find the lowest gas prices in Roseville, Rocklin, & Lincoln

Roseville, Calif. - Gas prices continue to hover around the $5 per gallon mark at many locations around South Placer County.

Open: Auburn Library’s temporary location

Auburn, Calif. - The Auburn Library has opened its new temporary location with modified services and the same helpful, friendly staff to help patrons navigate materials and lead library programming.

❤️Valentine’s or a Scam? Roseville PD reminds you to protect yourself against romance fraudsters

Roseville, Calif.- It's a new year. Are you or a family member looking for that someone special in 2025? Now, more than ever, people are using their smart phone for almost everything, including finding their soul mate

IICA Speech in Roseville

Our knowledgeable and compassionate team provides speech, language, cognitive, social, and feeding services to enhance the quality of our clients’ lives while empowering their caregivers through our unique team approach.

Sierra College President Willy Duncan earns international recognition for economic development efforts

In recognition of his efforts on the team to bring BOSCH to Placer County and his leadership with the Greater Sacramento Economic Council, Sierra College Superintendent and President Willy Duncan has been named the recipient of the 2024 Community Partner Award

PCWA Hell Hole Reservoir project approved to increase storage

Auburn, Calif. - At its Thursday meeting, the Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) Board of Directors approved a $5.8 million contract for the Hell Hole seasonal storage increase project, adding to the capacity of the Hell Hole Reservoir so it can

🍀Clover Valley’s long history predating Rocklin

According to Sierra College Geology Professor Dick Hilton, the valley started to form five million years ago as the Sierra range lifted and tilted westward. Runoff streams wore down millions of years of rock and gravel deposits

❤️ 7 wonderfully fun spring break destinations in California

Roseville, Calif. - We ♥ California! Exploring the breadth and length of the magnificent Golden State is life's never ending journey. With exciting travel opportunities and variety in all directions, Roseville enjoys a premium and convenient location to fuel those adventures.

Related Articles

Local Spotlight

Stanford Ranch Family Dentistry in Rocklin serving the local community since 2000

Rocklin, Calif.- For nearly 24 years, Jason and Heather have grown their successful Stanford Ranch Family Dentistry practice by faithfully serving patients throughout the Rocklin, Roseville, and greater South Placer County region. Their business has grown to now employ over a dozen employees which helps them meet the growing demands of a successful local business.

Paul Black’s Solar Panel Cleaning in Roseville serving the region for over 30 years

Roseville, Calif. - Money-saving solar panels in Roseville, Rocklin and throughout South Placer County have become ubiquitous From new residential solar communities continue to big business and after market installation, solar seems to be a smart choice to shred those high monthly electric costs.

Sacramento Naturopathic Medical Center emphasizes the use of prevention and natural therapeutics

Sacramento Naturopathic Medical Center is a professional primary care natural medicine committed to helping all people reach their full potential – mind, body and spirit.