MOORE, Okla. (KFOR) Millions of families are impacted by Alzheimer’s disease, or AD. For two sisters here in the metro, a daunting diagnosis of early AD turned into one of perseverance and hope.

It’s the simple things in life for Rebecca Jo, like playing with her dog Buster in Moore, that she never takes for granted.

“I’m really blessed,” she said.

It’s a positive mindset and attitude that only a few years ago was put to the test. Her family has a history with Alzheimer’s disease and when she underwent genetic testing, it confirmed her fear. They found out she had a gene that slightly increased her risk for developing it.

“I was a bit disappointed to see that,” she said.

Later on, a specialized pet scan showed she had Amyloid plaque on her brain. That’s a hallmark sign of early AD.

“I sat down and cried for about two weeks,” Rebecca said.

Through simple tasks among other things, she started noticing a slight drop off in brain function.

“A little bit like a brain fog, maybe before coffee,” she said. “But it was like that more all day.”

Only in her late 60’s at the time, Rebecca said she never noticed major declines in brain function, but it still scared her family. She has 4 kids and 10 grandkids as well as a husband.

“My children were obviously distressed,” she said. “They would ask me questions and I could tell they were checking on my mental state.”

On top of that, her sister had been diagnosed as well, which put them both through it at the same time.

But they’ve fought. Luckily, they caught it early and a neurologist got her on medication and infusions that she previously wen into a clinical trial for. It’s all helped her live a full life at age 71.

“I feel every bit as good as before I ever knew,” she said.

Now, she’s working through it with her sister, prioritizing her health and she said she won’t let AD rob her of joy. Rebecca said her sister is also doing well and hasn’t experienced any significant decline in brain function.