A Day in the Life: Living With Early Alzheimer’s Disease

Life after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis has been challenging but also joyful for Paula Glickman, a resident of New York City.

On the challenging side, Glickman has had to give up her career as a psychotherapist, and she often feels infantilized by others because of her diagnosis. Even as she appreciates her younger sister for taking on a caregiving role, she resents the loss of autonomy that comes with being cared for by another person.

On a joyful note, Glickman has discovered her artistic side post-diagnosis, and now creates artworks from found objects and patterns she discovers on her walks.

Yoga classes are another source of joy for Glickman. She had taken classes for many years before her diagnosis, and since then, she has increased the number of classes she takes every week, benefiting from both the sense of peace she gets from the activity and the friendships and sense of belonging she experiences in the studio.

In fact, she says yoga has become “the center of my life.” When she’s practicing yoga, “I don't have Alzheimer's, which is amazing. I am just another yogini.”

Read more here about Glickman’s experience getting a diagnosis and adjusting to the new roles she and her sister have with respect to one another.