Local author spreads early-onset dementia awareness with first novel

WESTFIELD — Westfield resident Gina Biskupic released her first novel, “No Fault of His Own,” on June 30. In the fictional story inspired by true events, one of the main characters suffers from frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), a type of early onset dementia that affects people who are in the prime of their lives and is often misdiagnosed.

“The story is fictionalized, but the premise and medical information are factual. The story is inspired by a family member,” Biskupic said.

The Westfield community is invited to a meet-and-greet book signing event on Thursday, Aug. 21, at Shortstop Bar & Grill from 5 to 7 p.m. Signed copies of the book will be available for a $20 purchase.

According to Biskupic, FTD is very different from Alzheimer’s, and is one of the most common dementias affecting people mostly between 40 and 60 years old, but can start as early as 20.

When people are in the prime of their lives, doctors aren’t looking for dementia. It is often misdiagnosed, and may look like odd behavior, addiction, depression, anxiety, and be treated for those, Biskupic said, adding that over time, the grouping of those behaviors becomes so difficult, they have to look in other areas for the cause of the erratic behavior, which also commonly includes a loss of emotion and apathy.

“There isn’t a lot of memory loss early on — one of the reasons people don’t look for dementia. Odd behaviors make people think something is not quite right,” Biskupic said.

In “No Fault of His Own,” the main character is 57. “It’s a medical mystery, a love story, a family drama about marital issues, issues with siblings and adult friendships — what happens when there is illness in your prime with friends; a back story about childhood, how the family was raised, and the types of family qualities brought into the children,” Biskupic said.

She said the novel comes full circle and ends on a happy note, with a lot of life lessons. There are also a lot of sports references — the two main characters are Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills fans — and references to classic rock of the 70s, 80s and 90s. She also has an accompanying playlist of songs on Spotify that can be found by googling the book title, “No Fault of His Own.”

Biskupic said bringing awareness to FTD was part of her mission in writing the book. She also wrote the book for caregivers, people who suffer from the loss of a loved one while in their prime as they struggle to leave behind the relationship, enter new ones, and find hope.

Biskupic said the novel is for those who enjoy medical mysteries, as well as readers who relish a family drama, unique characters, bewildering events, and an emotional rollercoaster. It is a gripping tale of care partner peril, inner strength, the grieving process and paying it forward.

“No Fault of His Own” is available for purchase online at Amazon.com , BarnesandNoble.com , and Walmart.com in paperback and eBook.

Gina Biskupic is an ASHA certified speech and language pathologist with nearly thirty years of experience serving both children and adults. She has worked as a speech pathologist in several different school districts, including for four years at Southampton Road Elementary in the early 2000s, as well as in nursing facilities. In 2019, she opened Comprehensive Speech and Language Services, a private speech therapy practice in Westfield, from which she took a hiatus in 2023 to write No Fault of His Own.

“I’m not quite back to private practice,” she said, while she is involved in promotion, book signings,visiting book clubs, getting the word out online through social media, and reaching out “everywhere that I possibly can.”

Biskupic said the book encourages discussions by book club members with provided conversation topics, and includes a vast listing of FTD and ALS resources for general reference. Opportunities for support, advocacy, fundraising, and volunteerism can be found at the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) website, www.theAFTD.org .

Biskupic is a 2024 ASHA ACE Award recipient and an AFTD volunteer. A passionate lifelong learner, she enjoys researching health and disease topics, cooking for family and friends, and traveling in the USA and abroad. She can be contacted at GinaBiskupicSLP@gmail.com for book signing events and informational lectures about FTD. She has also recently appeared on the podcasts “Well Done, YOU!” and “yWrite.”

Biskupic said her next step will be to reach out to universities locally and nationally to make contacts. “I would love professors of counseling, physical therapy, OT, ST, nurse practitioners, PAs, the people who are on the front line of the diagnostic process — if we get the students coming into those professions early and educate them, there is a greater chance that FTD can be diagnosed earlier.”

Read the original article on MassLive .