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

Article excerpt

An Alzheimer's specialist recounts missing warning signs of cognitive decline in his own father, initially attributing memory lapses to work stress until a visit to meet his newborn daughter forced recognition of something more serious. The piece illustrates how even trained physicians can rationalize early symptoms in loved ones, overlooking the very red flags they would catch in patients. The family's delay in recognizing the disease, a common pattern, underscores gaps in how Alzheimer's diagnosis and care infrastructure reach people who should know better. The story serves as a personal entry point into broader questions about disease awareness, diagnostic barriers, and whether our current systems adequately prepare patients and families for cognitive decline.