B.C. Family Shares Journey Through Younger-Onset Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
The Breslaws say early testing helped them plan after Mark’s diagnosis, and they now speak publicly about dementia support and future care.
- Nearly three years after initial symptoms, Mark Breslaw and his wife Shonna stood before hundreds at the 2026 White Rock Walk for Alzheimer's, sharing their journey as advocates for families facing younger-onset dementia.
- The 48-year-old's path to diagnosis began in 2023 with cognitive lapses, leading to a lengthy medical process that ruled out conditions like ADHD and vitamin B12 deficiency before confirming younger-onset Alzheimer's in early 2025.
- While the diagnosis brought relief, the Breslaws faced the difficult challenge of explaining the condition to their eight-year-old son, Michael, while adapting to daily life changes including Mark's inability to drive due to executive function decline.
- Through the Alzheimer Society, Mark found a supportive community and new sense of purpose, participating in presentations to help others while continuing his passion for public speaking despite career changes.
- General healthcare systems remain ill-equipped for patients in their 50s, Mark noted, yet the family continues moving forward one day at a time, emphasizing that "life doesn't end immediately after diagnosis.
10 Articles
10 Articles
B.C. family shares journey through younger-onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis - Creston Valley Advance
Everything changed when a familiar route home became unfamiliar. For years, Mark Breslaw drove the same route home from work. Then, one afternoon in November 2023, something happened that he couldn’t explain. Sitting at a familiar four-way stop on his drive home, Breslaw suddenly didn’t know where he was. “It was my turn to go and I completely blanked on how I got there, where I was and where home was,” Breslaw recalled. At first, he blamed stre…
B.C. family shares journey through younger-onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis - Fort St. James Caledonia Courier
Everything changed when a familiar route home became unfamiliar. For years, Mark Breslaw drove the same route home from work. Then, one afternoon in November 2023, something happened that he couldn’t explain. Sitting at a familiar four-way stop on his drive home, Breslaw suddenly didn’t know where he was. “It was my turn to go and I completely blanked on how I got there, where I was and where home was,” Breslaw recalled. At first, he blamed stre…
B.C. family shares journey through younger-onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis - Grand Forks Gazette
Everything changed when a familiar route home became unfamiliar. For years, Mark Breslaw drove the same route home from work. Then, one afternoon in November 2023, something happened that he couldn’t explain. Sitting at a familiar four-way stop on his drive home, Breslaw suddenly didn’t know where he was. “It was my turn to go and I completely blanked on how I got there, where I was and where home was,” Breslaw recalled. At first, he blamed stre…
B.C. family shares journey through younger-onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis - Vanderhoof Omineca Express
Everything changed when a familiar route home became unfamiliar. For years, Mark Breslaw drove the same route home from work. Then, one afternoon in November 2023, something happened that he couldn’t explain. Sitting at a familiar four-way stop on his drive home, Breslaw suddenly didn’t know where he was. “It was my turn to go and I completely blanked on how I got there, where I was and where home was,” Breslaw recalled. At first, he blamed stre…
Kelowna Capital News
B.C. family shares journey through younger-onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis
Everything changed when a familiar route home became unfamiliar. For years, Mark Breslaw drove the same route home from work. Then, one afternoon in November 2023, something happened that he couldn’t explain. Sitting at a familiar four-way stop on his drive home, Breslaw suddenly didn’t know where he was. “It was my turn to go and I completely blanked on how I got there, where I was and where home was,” Breslaw recalled. At first, he blamed stre…
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