Recognizing the Signs of Dementia

Journey to Diagnosis is a Being Patient series sponsored by Eisai. As with all of our reporting, the sponsor has no role in choosing guests, shaping questions, or reviewing content before publication.

Scott Cunningham spent 40 years working as a psychiatrist, but when changes in his own vision and thinking began to emerge, the cause was not immediately clear. At first, Scott noticed that activities he had once excelled at, including playing board games with his family, were becoming unexpectedly difficult. He sought help for his vision and underwent cataract surgery, but even after his eyes were found to be healthy, the problems persisted. His ophthalmologist eventually recognized that something other than his eyesight could be causing the changes and referred him to a neurologist for further evaluation.

His wife, Anne Cunningham, a retired clinical social worker, was noticing changes too. Scott was having increasing difficulty navigating while driving, including trouble staying in a lane and responding to unfamiliar situations on the road. These changes added to the family’s concern and became another sign that something more was going on.

Join us Thursday, Oct. 1, at 11 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. ET for a Live Talk with Anne and Scott Cunningham about the early changes that first raised concerns, the process of searching for answers, how their lives have changed since Scott began experiencing cognitive and visual difficulties, and what they have learned about navigating these changes together as a couple.

RSVP to hear Anne and Scott Cunningham share their story.