The owner of a $20 million yacht dealership and married for only two years to his wife, Laura, Jones noticed subtle differences. His wife began noticing them, too.
"The beginning was the personality changes," Laura Jones said. "He was more agitated. He was more nervous and then getting lost."
What the couple would find out was that he had developed an early-onset form of Alzheimer's, which was slowly robbing him of an otherwise healthy life and the ability to form and retrieve new memories. He is only 52.
Jay Jones is not the typical face of an Alzheimer's patient -- but one that is younger and growing in numbers.
With his wife by his side and her notes in his hands, Jay Jones read aloud what it is like to live with Alzheimer's disease at a Social Security Administration hearing in Chicago last week.
He is fighting for change and a better chance for survival.
The government hearing sought to bring more Social Security disability benefits to those in their 40s and 50s suffering from Alzheimer's disease -- with less red tape -- and to fast-track the disability benefit claiming process.
"The beginning was the personality changes," Laura Jones said. "He was more agitated. He was more nervous and then getting lost."
What the couple would find out was that he had developed an early-onset form of Alzheimer's, which was slowly robbing him of an otherwise healthy life and the ability to form and retrieve new memories. He is only 52.
Jay Jones is not the typical face of an Alzheimer's patient -- but one that is younger and growing in numbers.
With his wife by his side and her notes in his hands, Jay Jones read aloud what it is like to live with Alzheimer's disease at a Social Security Administration hearing in Chicago last week.
He is fighting for change and a better chance for survival.
The government hearing sought to bring more Social Security disability benefits to those in their 40s and 50s suffering from Alzheimer's disease -- with less red tape -- and to fast-track the disability benefit claiming process.
