Another Sunday and yes another FYI post.
I am an old fart and I worry about dementia. My body is falling apart but so far my mind retains the sharpness it has had for decades….but I worry that that might be a fleet claim as I grow even older.
This post is for elderly comrades here on WP that may have the same fears about their aging.
This article will have some signs that you need to beware of in case you are thinking about the situation as you get older.
Dementia is a progressive condition that damages and eventually kills brain cells. In the next ten years, experts project that about 82 million people worldwide will have dementia. While there is still no cure for the condition, knowing the early warning signs of dementia can help you or your loved one get the support they need.
Dementia is not one specific disease. Instead, it is a collection of symptoms resulting from various brain disorders. While a certain amount of memory loss is normal as you age, Alzheimer’s and other dementias are different.
Dementia is memory loss that is severe to the point that it is affecting your everyday life. People with dementia have difficulty sticking to their normal routines, learning new things, and completing tasks they’re familiar with.While most people who develop dementia are over the age of 65, it is not exclusively an “old person’s” condition. A small portion of people in their forties and fifties can also develop the condition. When this happens, experts refer to it as “young onset dementia”.
As the prevalence of dementia continues to increase worldwide, it is very important to know the early warning signs of the condition. This will help to diagnose it earlier and begin creating a proper care plan as it progresses.12 early warning signs of dementia.
Particularly in its early stages, warning signs of dementia can be very subtle and difficult to detect. If you notice any of the following behaviors in yourself or a loved one, talk to your doctor about being assessed for Dementia.
Before Dementia Sets in, Your Body Will Give You These 12 Early Warning Signs
I hope this article was helpful if you are truly worried about the possibility of dementia….if you notice one or more of these signs in you or a family member please see a medical profession for a more accurate diagnosis.
That is it for this Sunday….I hope all my visitors have a great day and as always….Be well and Be Safe….
I Read, I Write, You Know
“lego ergo scribo”
Those of us who age constantly fear dementia.. and also that other brain condition that robs us of who we are… a stroke. How many of us have witnessed the deterioration of a family member or friend, or even the casual passing in public of some poor person without their mind confined to a wheel chair with connected tanks and hoses… where we utter to those near us.. “Don’t let me get that far. Just take me out back and shoot me.” We wish it but more than likely it… someone “killing” you or even assisting you to do it yourself when you reach that point… will never happen.
It’s less about the fear in reaching a point of dementia or catastrophic stroke, it’s the fear that you will not be able to take things into your own hands to terminate such existence. This loss of control over who you are.
I recall reading about the senior Kennedy.. the old man, Joe, JFK’s father. He suffered a stroke paralyzing his right side and severely affecting his speech. Yet he retained his mental capability. After a couple years of cane hobbling he ended up with a muscular condition confining him to a wheel chair. I imagine… not having the mobility, unable to speak, half your body paralyzed… and your brain retaining all capacity, memories, and thought. It’s more like your body is a prison…. and how does one keep their brain functioning without going veg on that alone? A living torture and death. Yet our society will not respect termination of life even when dictated years in advance. How comforting to note that if you get a stroke or dementia people will keep you alive to live out that personal torture. You have the law enforcing it.. and of course the “love” of family members that just want to keep you hanging around to make THEM feel good.
I agree that is truly sad….we ought to be able to determine our destiny without government intervention. I will be writing about the ‘other’ disease soon. chuq
My maternal grandmother suffered from Dementia in the last seven years of her life. She used to ‘escape’ from her apartment and wander the streets of London in her nightdress, and when she was eventually settled into an old people’s home, she didn’t recognise anyone from our family. It was sad to see her change so drastically.
Best wishes, Pete.
It is truly sad….and the family around them suffer as well chuq