November, 2025
In August 2025, we welcomed Mr. Takehiko Fujishima, a person living with early-onset dementia, to Eisai’s headquarters for a socialization program with our Public Relations Department.
Mr. Fujishima was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s dementia in 2023 at the age of 57. Before that, he had built a long career in sales, including an overseas assignment.
At the socialization program, Mr. Fujishima candidly described the uneasiness he experienced leading up to his dementia diagnosis, as well as the how his life and emotions, such as his joy, anger, sadness, and delight, have shifted since. While Mr. Fujishima felt out of sorts, facing difficulties such as forgetting how to tie his necktie, struggling to remember colleagues’ faces and names, and making repeated mistakes he normally wouldn’t, he did not recognize these as symptoms of dementia. He shared the following insight.
“Because dementia causes no physical pain, I encourage you not to ignore even the slightest sense of unease and to seek medical advice without delay. Symptoms may progress before you receive treatment, and any time lost before your first hospital visit is simply too precious to waste.”
In his talk, Mr. Fujishima, who is actively engaged in creating a society where everyone can discuss more openly about dementia, conveyed his hope that more people will come to recognize even subtle uneasiness as a potential sign of dementia. Mr. Fujishima’s talk was profoundly insightful for us as a team who regularly works to convey the importance of early detection and diagnoses of dementia to diverse stakeholders, and renewed our dedication to future initiatives.
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