Finding Peace After an Early Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

Receiving an Alzheimer’s diagnosis was, in LauraLee Denler’s words, deeply unsettling. She recalls crying often in the weeks that followed, caught off guard by news she never expected. But roughly six months later, something began to shift. Denler made a personal commitment to stay present, and she started building a routine centered on her mind, body and spirit, a shift she says changed the course of how she experienced her diagnosis.

Denler, now a patient advocate sharing her story as part of This is ALZ, a national campaign powered by HealthyWomen working to elevate the voices of people living with earlier stages of the disease, said nourishing her body became a priority. She focused on eating whole foods, staying hydrated and filling her plate with color. She also leaned into physical activity, kayaking, hiking, biking, walking and even taking up cornhole with friends, along with tending to a butterfly garden that now takes up much of her time.

For her mental and emotional health, Denler turned to journaling, meditation and hot yoga, often practiced in rooms heated to around 95 degrees, three to four times a week. She describes her mind as tied closely to her sense of soul and purpose, and treats that daily practice as essential to staying grounded.

Sharing her diagnosis wasn’t easy, and Denler chose to tell only her partner and a few close friends at first. The hardest conversation by far, she said, was with her son, Tyler. Over the course of about two months, she took him on several hikes, hoping each time to find the right moment to tell him. It never quite happened, until the fourth hike, when she pulled over partway up their long driveway and asked him to grab the mail. She had quietly decided that if an envelope with the word “Alzheimer’s” on it was in the stack, she would take it as her sign to start the conversation. When her son returned with a single envelope bearing that word, she knew the moment had arrived. The conversation that followed, she said, was emotional and difficult, but full of love.

About nine months ago, Denler made another significant decision: She left her job as a reading interventionist at a small elementary school to focus fully on her health. She said the shift brought more energy and a renewed sense of confidence in her choices. Throughout her journey, she said, she has made a point not to define herself by her diagnosis.

Denler has also chosen to speak publicly about her experience in hopes that by sharing her story, others facing their own diagnosis will find the courage to share their own.

Her advice for anyone newly diagnosed: There’s no need to have everything figured out right away. Give yourself time to sit with the diagnosis, and when you’re ready, resources like the My Alzheimer’s Journey app can offer guidance and connection at your own pace.