By Essence ·Updated May 6, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

Monica is a real patient and a paid Lilly spokesperson.

When pulling into the parking lot at the grocery store, Monica was always searching for the right spot, but maneuvering into tight parking spaces started to feel more challenging, and Monica couldn’t figure out why. She started chalking up the changes she noticed to getting older—not realizing they were signs of something more. Monica would go on to be diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), an early stage of memory loss that can often be caused by Alzheimer’s disease.1

Signs, Symptoms & Strategies

Difficulty parking might not feel like a sign of memory or thinking issues, but early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease can take many forms, and they may sneak up on you. As a high school special education teacher, she found herself using accommodations that her students often use. “In the classroom, we tested students by reading aloud,” says Monica. “So, the very first thing that I noticed was [that I was] having trouble staying on the line when reading a test.” But being a great teacher, she started using a ruler to keep her place while reading. She also started taking notes about assignments and placed sticky notes everywhere to remember students’ names.Individuals who develop MCI due to Alzheimer’s disease typically exhibit early symptoms of short-term memory loss, which may gradually extend to other cognitive issues.2 For example, when Monica sat down to pay her bills, she said, “I had trouble keeping up with what was paid from what hadn’t been paid.” Monica also began noticing subtle changes in how she connected with her coworkers, and one conversation in particular made her realize it was time to take action. “I was walking into the school building with an older colleague,” Monica says. “We were talking about sharing the same problems. And then I thought, this is not age-appropriate, I need to get this checked out.” 

Monica and her loved ones provided consent to use the above photo. Breaking Through the Barriers

For Monica, the next step in her journey was talking to her doctor, but like many looking for more information on their symptoms, stigma played a role in delaying action.2,3 She had experienced early signs of memory and thinking issues for years but disregarded them as normal signs of aging—a common misconception among many, especially within traditionally underserved communities.4 More than half of non-White Americans believe significant loss of memory or cognitive abilities is a normal part of aging while Hispanic, Black and Native Americans are twice as likely as White adults to say they would not see a doctor if experiencing memory and thinking issues.4

“Within our community, we often see or notice these symptoms but do nothing about them,” says Monica. That’s why she feels it’s important to share her own experience. “Several people I’ve shared my symptoms with say, yeah, I have that too. And I’ll tell them, if you really can identify this much with me, you really need to get checked out as well.”

Monica and her loved ones provided consent to use the above photo. Acting Early

If you are experiencing memory and thinking issues, don’t wait. Acting early can make a difference. The sooner you talk to your doctor and discuss the memory and thinking issues associated with Alzheimer’s disease you are experiencing, the more options you may have.

“Early diagnosis is so important,” says Monica. “I think, in the Black community, for many of us, we only go to the ER when there’s a problem. We don’t have established relationships with doctors. I think that’s a barrier. I moved around a lot, but if I was in one place and had established relationships, they could see the changes in me over time.”

Your doctor may use tools to help identify cognitive impairment early, inform specialist referrals and/or support patients through early and proactive decision-making.2,3 A cognitive assessment can help establish a baseline of your cognitive health and give your doctor a reference point to help monitor changes in memory and thinking over time.

Monica and her loved ones provided consent to use the above photo. Self-Advocacy is Your Advantage

Monica is also a firm believer in standing up for yourself. “We need to learn how to advocate for ourselves. A doctor may say you’re doing fine, but you know that you’re not. We have to continue to advocate for further answers.”

Monica also recommends logging your symptoms in detail and bringing them to your next appointment along with your care partner.

Lastly, Monica emphasized the importance of finding a community. “I joined a Facebook support group,” Monica says. “Using these types of resources is so important.” She goes on to say that it’s huge not to feel so isolated on her journey with dementia as a Black person; “it’s support, but it’s also advocacy.”

“The people in my group, they’re doing great things, they’re talking about it, and it helps a great deal,” she says. 

Visit MoreThanNormalAging.com today and talk to your doctor about being evaluated. Acting early can make a difference in understanding what you’re experiencing. The sooner you talk to your doctor, the more options you may have.

[1] What is Mild Cognitive Impairment? Alzheimer’s Research UK. Published 2024. https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/dementia-information/types-of-dementia/mild-cognitive-impairment/.

[2] Porsteinsson AP, Isaacson RS, Knox S, et al. Diagnosis of early Alzheimer’s disease: clinical practice in 2021. J Prev Alzheimers Dis. 2021;8:371-386.

[3] 2025 Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures. Alzheimers Dement. 2025;21(4):e70235.

[4] 2021 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. Alzheimers Dement. 2021;17(3):327-406. CMAT-10711 03/2026 © Lilly USA, LLC 2026. All Rights Reserved.

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