The Inevitable (diet, smoke, Alzheimers, dementia)
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My mother, grandmother and aunt all started to get dementia about the age I am now (67.) They all d ied in their early 70's. They were physically healthy, except for my aunt who had congestive heart failure. I myself have several health issues. I am terrified that I will start the signs of dementia any time soon, based upon their history. None of them even tried to fight it, they just let it take them over. Or maybe they couldn't fight it once it began. I don't know.
I have worked hard the past several years to stimulate my mind. I do puzzles, read, do crafts, play computer games, and research things that interest me. So far I haven't noticed any signs other than the normmal forgetfullness of aging, etc. Are anything I am doing going to help me stave off dementia for a few more years, or is it inevitable?
I'd be terrified too, but at least you know what could be coming ahead...hopefully not anytime soon. Good for you on being proactive!
My health-conscious mom who'll be 85 next month who's in good health, still walks about 4-5 mornings a week, still drives, still lives alone in her 2-story house, etc. does those mental brain exercises online. She's also extremely prayerful & is praying for 129 years of life. She's also eats very very healthy, never smoked or drank in her life either. She also meditates, does deep breathing, etc. the WHOLE THING. She hasn't eaten a hamburger in 48 yrs so since before I was born.
She actually has to take her written DMV test soon & has been studying & taking lots of practice tests. That keeps your mind alert & gives a good refresher reL driving even if you DON'T have to actually take a DMV test.
I personally don't like the average humana lifespan, I think it's way too short. If it was up to me, we'd live in the 200 hundreds something years old. In biblical times, people lived to be SEVERAL hundred yrs old, but, we don't know how they measured time back then either, but still.
So just make sure you're doing as much as you possibly can in ALL aspects of health. Mental exercises won't do much if a person still drinks, smokes, doesn't drink much water, doesn't get much sleep, eats fast food, doesn't exercise much, doesn't have an optimistic mentality, etc.
First, I'd remind myself that this isn't necessarily "inevitable". Instead of spending what's left of your life all gloom and doom, inform yourself. Knowledge is power. The majority of dementias are not hereditary.
Even if you convince yourself you'd be one of the rarer cases, consider this: A child isn't an identical clone of either parent. They're a genetic mix of both. Both parents' DNA will have something to say about what might happen to their children.
Last edited by Parnassia; 07-17-2023 at 02:32 PM..
There are varying opinions about whether mental exercises work to keep us from developing dementia. Some say yes, some say no. It's confusing. So much depends upon genetics. I've got the opposite problem. I'm almost 72 and I have no interest in living to my dad's age of 101 or even my mom's age of 85-1/2 when she passed away. I just don't care. No one is going to be compromised by my passing, and I'm ready to go at any time, actually. I think it's a healthy mindset.
Enjoy life in the moment and let go of fears that one will die "young." or get dementia. The only thing a person can do is keep doing what they are doing and hope it works. Most of us here are fearful of dementia or Alzheimer's or some other incapacitating illness. If I find myself failing I will take matters into my own hands and take steps to never go into a memory care facility. Some of them are good, many of them are bad.
My father and his lady have discussed this because they are centenarians in assisted living. There is a memory care facility on their property. If you look at the online reviews, it is really scary and it's a very posh place. Many aren't. They are understaffed and I've heard they hire people that aren't always properly educated or trained in memory care. The anecdotes are troubling. If I learned that my dad had to go into memory care I would probably hop in my car and drive the 2000 miles and visit each day to make sure he was being cared for properly (and take notice of other patients' care as well).
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