Alzheimer’s: A Diagnosis with No Proof

Six months. That’s how long my husband Tim and I have lived under the crushing weight of a diagnosis that may not even be true.

Back then, a doctor told us flatly that Tim had Alzheimer’s. No nuance, no options, no testing beyond the basic office assessments. The verdict was final, delivered like a gavel strike: I’m sorry, but you have AD.

We were handed a prescription for Aricept, told to take his car keys away, and even warned to alert the police in case of a Silver Alert. Our lives changed in an instant. We cancelled vacations. We shifted routines. We lived with a label that dictated fear.

And yet, yesterday, under questioning, a nurse finally admitted the truth: “We don’t actually diagnose. He just had all the indicators.”
All the indicators. But no proof.
No PET scan. No neurologist referral. Just pills and insurance payments, month after month.

Tim has kept golfing, walking our dogs, cooking, and—most importantly—writing. He is more engaged than he has been in years. Not because of Aricept, but because we refused to let that rushed diagnosis define him.

Why This Matters
How many families have had their hope stolen by words delivered too soon, too carelessly? How many lives are being rewritten under a diagnosis with no proof?

Alzheimer’s is devastating. But so is being told you have it when the evidence isn’t there. This isn’t just about my husband—it’s about the countless others who are being funneled into the same path without the right testing, without dignity, without a chance to fight.

What Needs to Change
No one should be labeled with Alzheimer’s without a PET scan or neurologist confirmation.
Psychiatrists are not the final word on diagnosis. Families deserve a real pathway to clarity, not a prescription pad.
Insurance incentives must not replace medical diligence. Lives are too precious for shortcuts.
Our Call to Action
If you or someone you love is handed an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, demand proof. Ask for the PET scan. Insist on a neurologist. Don’t let a rushed verdict dictate your future.

For us, we’ve turned our pain into purpose. With the help of AI, we’ve built MiM (Memory in Motion)—an app designed to preserve dignity, routine, and identity for those facing early memory challenges. Because life doesn’t end with memory loss—and it certainly shouldn’t end with an assumption.

This is a rallying cry: Don’t let anyone steal your hope, your time, or your life without proof.

And let’s see if the press pick up on this—or bury it.