For 66-year-old U.S. Marine Corps veteran Jeff Suydam, completing a marathon has never just been about distance—it is a testament to endurance. Living with Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA), a rare form of Alzheimer’s disease, Suydam recently achieved a deeply personal milestone by taking on the 51st Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C., using the sport he loves to fight back against cognitive decline.
A lifelong runner and former heavy equipment operator, Suydam ran his first Marine Corps Marathon at age 18 while serving in the military from 1978 to 1981. Over the decades, he built an extensive athletic resume, completing nearly 20 marathons and finishing the Hawaii Ironman twice.
However, several years ago, Suydam began noticing subtle, troubling changes. Simple tasks—such as writing his name, recognizing spatial relationships, and fastening a seatbelt—became increasingly difficult. Medical evaluations eventually revealed a diagnosis of PCA, a variant of Alzheimer’s that primarily impairs visual processing and spatial awareness rather than memory alone.
A renewed sense of purpose
While everyday movements grew challenging, Suydam retained the motor skills needed to run. To help him continue training safely, his wife of nearly 40 years, Susan, began following him in her car during his runs around Barnegat.
In September 2026, Suydam’s care team at Hackensack Meridian Health—led by Dr. Robert Stern at Jersey Shore University Medical Center and Dr. Florian Thomas at Hackensack University Medical Center—connected the couple with Achilles New Jersey. The organization pairs athletes with disabilities with volunteer running guides, enabling Suydam to train for what he has described as likely his final 26.2-mile race.
“Jeff has always been a fighter. From his time in the Marine Corps to the countless marathons and Ironman competitions he’s completed, he has never been someone to give up,” Susan Suydam said. “When we received his diagnosis, we knew our lives would change, but we never wanted this disease to take away the things that make Jeff who he is.”
She added that the support from his clinical team and Achilles New Jersey provided a renewed sense of purpose: “As his wife, there is nothing more meaningful than seeing him continue to do something he loves.”
Raising awareness for rare Alzheimer’s variants
Accompanied by a dedicated volunteer guide on Oct. 25, Suydam completed the iconic 26.2-mile route through Washington, D.C.
As Veterans Day approaches, the Suydam family hopes sharing Jeff’s journey will raise public awareness about Posterior Cortical Atrophy, highlight the early warning signs of non-memory-dominant dementias, and demonstrate the vital role of maintaining an active lifestyle following a major diagnosis.
