General News
23 June, 2026
Local family push to raise awareness after early-onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis
An incurable Alzheimer’s diagnosis has transformed Rob Mclean’s daily life, and his family want to make the community aware of the rare, young-onset condition.
Mr Mclean’s family started noticing his symptoms when he was around 60 years old. He was unable to match his signature on his driver’s licence to paperwork he was filling out. Similar instances continued from there.
His wife, Lynda, noticed a decline in various motor skills, including pouring into a glass or putting his shoes on the right feet.
“I could see things a bit earlier ... it took months while his symptoms worsened during that time,” she said.
“If he is going down steps, he can’t see them. He can’t write on a line … he also has dressing apraxia as well, so he struggles to put his clothes on the right way, he puts his clothes on inside out.
“This is something that is not scanned, it is something carers and families have to be aware of if there are changes. We all get a little bit forgetful once we get older, but you have to ask, ‘is this a bit more than forgetful?’.”
What followed was a “long and drawn out” process of tests before Mr Mclean was diagnosed in 2024, with his condition formally identified in July 2025.
“They tell you it’s terminal and you can’t get rid of it. I know I’m going to die but we all are at some stage, aren’t we?” Mr Mclean said.
“But, I have a rare one. I have what’s called PCA. Posterior Cortical Atrophy.”
PCA is a rare form of young-onset dementia, where the messages the eyes see don’t communicate with other regions in the brain. This is because the condition is caused by brain tissue shrinking, and cells are lost.
“That’s what makes it very, very hard to be able to have any treatment for it, there are so many different things going on with the brain, it’s not just that we can zap it and hit the spot, it’s a very delicate part of our human anatomy. They can’t do things like that, there is no treatment, there is no trial at this stage. So there is nothing really at this stage which can be done,” Ms Mclean said.
This can affect visual processing, as well as spelling, writing and arithmetic.
“I have to be careful going up and down stairs, I’ll have blank moments where I am talking away and then I’ll stop to try and gather the words, things like that,” Mr Mclean said.
“When I was diagnosed, I told everyone. I told people at work, I didn’t hide it. I just wanted to make sure people knew. Even people at work saw changes.”
With the condition diagnosed in patients as young as their 50s, Mr Mclean’s family want to debunk the idea that dementia is an ‘old person’s disease’, and are encouraging anyone who may have symptoms to seek help as early as possible.
“If they are recognising symptoms in their loved ones that they haven’t seen before, it is worth seeing a doctor. If it goes undiagnosed, it can be really detrimental to the relationship, and also, it can be quite frustrating for the person,” Ms Mclean said.
The family said they have found valuable assistance from various organisations, providing information and resources that others can benefit from if they are given a similar diagnosis.
“We have had amazing support from Dementia Australia and Guide Dogs Victoria ... we didn’t know where to start, we were so overwhelmed with everything, then you can start pulling on these resources, it’s amazing the support they have,” Ms Mclean said.
“If someone is feeling over-whelmed and loved ones are having difficulties, there is a lot of support out there.”
Mr Mclean has a ‘talking’ clock, non slip plates, even a watch to assist him with everyday tasks he is no longer able to do.
“We have got some really good tools to use, I’ll lay out Rob’s clothes so he knows the right way to put them on, and we do colour coordination of his coat hangers. Looking in a wardrobe, everything just blends in and looks the same, same with the fridge,” Ms Mclean said.
After raising $2500 for Alzheimer’s Australia, from June, 29, 30 and 31, the family will embark on a 42 kilometre walk at Goldfields Reservoir for the Australian Walk and Jog Challenge to support those impacted by dementia.
Starting early each morning of the walk, community members are welcome to join.
“We are happy to support anyone going through this, not that we own that we know a lot about it, I am still trying to educate myself but there are resources out there. Knowledge is power,” Ms Mclean said.
She is also thankful for the support she has received locally.
“We’d love to thank the Maryborough community for their support, just asking about Rob and supporting us. We had our shirts made up by Vital Signs, and they were done for free,” she said.
“Every time I walk up the street someone asks ‘how’s Rob?’ and ‘how are you?”
To support a better understanding into the rare condition, Mr Mclean has decided to donate his brain to the Victorian Brain Bank, a resource facility for research into brain conditions.
“Rob came up with that, we were out on a walk and he just out of the blue said ‘I’m going to donate my brain to science ... I may as well donate my brain and they can learn something about it,” Ms Mclean said.
“We are grateful that we still have time, some people don’t get that time to cherish the memories, make new ones, and enjoy old ones.”
Locals can find out more and support their challenge at www.impossiblewalkjog.com.au/fundraisers/teammclean/impossible-walk-and-jog