David Hilfiker
Diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, author, physician
An author and former physician, Dr. David Hilfiker was diagnosed in 2012 with a progressive mild cognitive impairment. His doctor thought it was Alzheimer's but additional testing proved this initial diagnosis to be wrong. Now David must learn how to come to terms with the reality of worsening cognitive issues that appear to have no cause.
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Following the shocking news that my cognitive impairment doesn't appear to be caused by Alzheimer's disease, it appears as though this experience is still teaching me new things.
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I will continue to blog about my experiences with cognitive impairment, even though medical tests have ruled out Alzheimer's disease as the cause of my issues.
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In a society where the topic of Alzheimer's is still taboo, we may need an "Alzheimer's Anonymous" to encourage thoughtful dialogue about the disease.
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My cognitive impairment is making everyday tasks--such as assembling furniture from IKEA--nearly impossible.
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My symptoms are becoming increasingly worse, and their unpredictability is causing me to question my ability to handle everyday tasks.
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Once again, I am reminded of the power of learning to let go as I struggle with writer's block and the feeling that chronicling my life with cognitive impairment has become a burden.
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An odd occurrence during an evening walk caused me to jump to a conclusion about the potential source of my cognitive impairment.
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Diagnosing Alzheimer's is a complex and imprecise process, sometimes, as was the case with me, misdiagnoses are made.
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Uncertainty is hard when you and your family are dealing with inexplicable dementia symptoms. Here are some words of wisdom from a former-physician faced with this situation.
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People sometimes ask me if depression makes a person more susceptible to Alzheimer's. The question is important and there is certainly an association between the two.
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You've heard about the value of being a "life-long learner." But, the truth is that, all of us--caregivers and patients alike--are also life-long teachers of one another.
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There is an entire set of literature about the topic of not feeding at the end of life. It even has its own acronym, VSED (voluntarily stopping eating and drinking).
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It's not just my mind that makes me feel old. It's my body, too. And in a society that seems to value youth over everything else, it's a struggle not to feel less-than.
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My wife and I have been together almost forty-five years, and so often I forget the beauty between us. Every once in a while, though, it will suddenly break through, in spite of Alzheimer's.
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Family members say they don't notice my cognitive impairment; even though I can clearly see how it's affecting my day-to-day life.
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Caregivers often wonder why a person with dementia will refuse to do certain things. Based on a recent experience with my own cognitive impairment, I believe I know why this happens.
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When I first thought I had Alzheimer's, I was given the unexpected gift of community. My relationships with many people from the community changed profoundly (or at least my perceptions of them did).
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When I found out I didn't have Alzheimer's, I was grateful, yet disappointed at the same time. Here's why.
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Perhaps Alzheimer's is not a fate worse than death, even though so many people believe that it is. Here's how I think society can get beyond this type of thinking.
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I recently learned just how bad my cognitive impairment can become when I don't sleep enough. I couldn't read, write or even play a simple children's game.