4 ms·

I know this is an argument of 'ignorance is bliss'. But one wonders if the subject would be aware of this decline? If you are in decline but unaware of it, is

I know this is an argument of 'ignorance is bliss'. But one wonders if the subject would be aware of this decline? If you are in decline but unaware of it, is that a bad thing?

graeme 4y ago
Yes? Sarcopenia, age related muscle loss, is extremely common, mostly optional, and largely unnoticed by those who have it. It’s associated with many bad health impacts and reduced practical abilities. If your brain is worse you are worse at a lot of things.
- Nitrolo 4y ago
  When you say "mostly optional" I assume you mean working out will drastically reduce the rate of muscle loss. Is that what you mean or are there other intervention?
  - graeme 4y ago
    Yeah exactly. Continuing to use your muscles so they don’t deteriorate, sleeping a good amount, and eating a decent diet that includes enough protein to sustain them. You will still get less strong with age even if you do this but vast bulk of sarcopenia is just atrophy. Also worth noting that preservation is easier than gaining. Meaning if you get strong you can keep most of it with less effort than it took to acquire it. The wikipedia has a good overview of factors and prevention https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcopenia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcopenia
bigDinosaur 4y ago
I've seen it unironically cited in psychology textbooks as a 'benefit' to dementia that you become increasingly unaware of just how much you've lost. It's not totally untrue I suppose, so I can see the angle, but it's also clearly the copest of copes. One major reason to be aware of decline is so you can plan. That may include long term care or obviously more dramatic measures. It creates a gigantic set of issues for families when someone declines who had no plan at all and is in denial or unable to understand their own decline.
- PicassoCTs 4y ago
  Eh, that seems to be only partially true. You are forever aware of the feeling of location loss, positional unawareness. You wake up every minute, in a strange city, strange place, with strange people. Normal reaction to that is stress and panic. Which is why you get medicated against fear and stress as dementia patient.

I know this is an argument of 'ignorance is bliss'. But one wonders if the subject would be aware of this decline? If you are in decline but unaware of it, is that a bad thing?

graeme 4y ago

Yes? Sarcopenia, age related muscle loss, is extremely common, mostly optional, and largely unnoticed by those who have it. It’s associated with many bad health impacts and reduced practical abilities. If your brain is worse you are worse at a lot of things.

Nitrolo 4y ago
When you say "mostly optional" I assume you mean working out will drastically reduce the rate of muscle loss. Is that what you mean or are there other intervention?
- graeme 4y ago
  Yeah exactly. Continuing to use your muscles so they don’t deteriorate, sleeping a good amount, and eating a decent diet that includes enough protein to sustain them. You will still get less strong with age even if you do this but vast bulk of sarcopenia is just atrophy. Also worth noting that preservation is easier than gaining. Meaning if you get strong you can keep most of it with less effort than it took to acquire it. The wikipedia has a good overview of factors and prevention https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcopenia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcopenia

bigDinosaur 4y ago

I've seen it unironically cited in psychology textbooks as a 'benefit' to dementia that you become increasingly unaware of just how much you've lost. It's not totally untrue I suppose, so I can see the angle, but it's also clearly the copest of copes. One major reason to be aware of decline is so you can plan. That may include long term care or obviously more dramatic measures. It creates a gigantic set of issues for families when someone declines who had no plan at all and is in denial or unable to understand their own decline.

PicassoCTs 4y ago
Eh, that seems to be only partially true. You are forever aware of the feeling of location loss, positional unawareness. You wake up every minute, in a strange city, strange place, with strange people. Normal reaction to that is stress and panic. Which is why you get medicated against fear and stress as dementia patient.