DUBLIN, OH (WCMH) – A Dublin couple hopes Gene Wilder’s secrecy about his battle with Alzheimer’s disease doesn’t stop others from opening up.
Sarah Moseley was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s at 56 years old.
“It is not a disease you want to get,” Sarah said. “Sometimes I get confused, but then I’m back on track.”
It means no driving, cooking or working for Sarah, but she still faces the disease with a smile.
“I can take this on because I know who I am. I know who loves me, and I know I can do this,” Sarah said.
Sarah’s husband Tony Moseley said it’s not a disease you can fight alone.
“Her world is shrinking,” Tony said. “You make the best of every day, and every day is a little different. You kind of got to watch, but it’s what you do for someone you love.”
Neurologist Dr. Geoffrey Eubank with OhioHealth said even though Wilder chose to hide the disease from his fans, family can make a critical difference when living with Alzheimer’s.
“Most diseases impact the patient and also their families, but especially in the setting of Alzheimer’s,” OhioHealth Neurologist Dr. Geoffrey Eubank said. “Its hallmark is it affects their ability to care for themselves, so families typically need to get involved very early on.”
Dr. Eubank is blunt about modern medicine not stepping up to the plate when it comes to treatment.
He hopes the national attention on the celebrity’s death will highlight the desperate need for more research.
The Alzheimer’s Association’s Central Ohio Chapter offers care consultations for free. To request a consultation, call 800-272-3900.What others are clicking on: