Presenile Dementia Treatment in India

Navya Nair, a 48-year-old accomplished software...

Navya Nair, a 48-year-old accomplished software architect and mother of two teenagers, began noticing subtle changes. She would forget the agenda for high-stakes meetings she had organized, struggled to follow complex code she once wrote effortlessly, and became uncharacteristically irritable with her family. Her husband, a doctor, initially attributed it to stress and menopause. However, when Navya got lost driving home from her own neighborhood, they sought help. A neurologist, after a battery of cognitive tests, MRI, and PET scans, diagnosed her with Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease, a form of presenile dementia. The doctor recommended a comprehensive treatment plan: starting a cholinesterase inhibitor (Donepezil), enrolling in a clinical trial for a new monoclonal antibody therapy, and immediate lifestyle interventions including cognitive therapy and a strict Mediterranean diet. The diagnosis was devastating. Navya grappled with grief for the future she had planned. The initial weeks on medication brought mild nausea, and the infusions for the trial were time-consuming. However, after six months, the rapid decline plateaued. With cognitive therapy, she learned compensation strategies, using elaborate digital reminders and focusing on preserved skills. The emotional journey was harrowing, from fear and anger at the diagnosis to a fragile, determined acceptance. While the disease progresses, the treatment has bought crucial time, allowing her to create memory books with her children and transition her work responsibilities with dignity. The outcome is not a cure, but managed decline and preserved quality of life.