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That's something I have thought about as well, but realistically I fail to see how this is possible to escape it completely, since most of the time, when you ha

That's something I have thought about as well, but realistically I fail to see how this is possible to escape it completely, since most of the time, when you have dementia, you simply don't realize you have it (or, you deny it).

bittercynic 3y ago
Yes, I think that's a big part of what makes it so scary. Maybe the part of you that would do /anything/ to avoid dementia will be the first thing to go.
- dagw 3y ago
  Having unfortunately watched my mother in law go through Alzheimer, at no point in the process was she willing to admit or even really aware (other than for very short flashes) that she had a problem.
sixdimensional 3y ago
FWIW, my grandfather had dementia and knew it before he passed, and for a long time when it was developing. The interesting part is he could not remember the word for it, but the part of his brain that knew what dementia was, still functioned. So he would say, "I have that thing that starts with the letter d, where I can't remember things". I also remember after he passed, going through things in his home, and finding papers and things he had collected, which were his reminders to himself that he had seen in himself that he couldn't remember. I think for me, one of the most emotional moments I had was finding this poem printed and sitting on his desk: https://www.ellenbailey.com/poems/ellen_112.htm https://www.ellenbailey.com/poems/ellen_112.htm I still miss him and was in awe of the fact that he was going through the stages of dementia but still remembered me, and was aware of it. I think being aware of it almost made it worse, in my opinion.
- debo_ 3y ago
  That poem is beautiful. Thank you.
gcanyon 3y ago
Agreed: this is why I expect to make this decision — if I have to — (much) earlier than most people would expect.
- Try1275 3y ago
  For me personally I would like to determine the level of deterioration for lack of a better word where this is done on my behalf. Like an AI monitoring my cognitive levels and pulling the stops at a certain level. I understand how controversial and dystopian this sounds and how many problems this may cause on a society level but it would let me go on a lot longer than if I had to take care of things myself.
BeetleB 3y ago
I wonder how true that is. There are plenty of people who do know it when it starts happening, because it's not a sudden change - so they'll have bouts of complete clarity. In Oregon, there is/was an effort/lawsuit by one person in early stages of Alzheimer's to allow for physician assisted suicide after diagnosis. Currently one of the requirements is such that it precludes being used by dementia patients. Just Googled it - she had to move to another country to get that assisted suicide. There are other anecdotes of people being aware they're falling into dementia. I know a famous writer whose mother knew it and asked him to kill her before it got worse (he refused). So I wonder what proportion do and what don't.

bittercynic 3y ago

Yes, I think that's a big part of what makes it so scary. Maybe the part of you that would do /anything/ to avoid dementia will be the first thing to go.

dagw 3y ago
Having unfortunately watched my mother in law go through Alzheimer, at no point in the process was she willing to admit or even really aware (other than for very short flashes) that she had a problem.

sixdimensional 3y ago

FWIW, my grandfather had dementia and knew it before he passed, and for a long time when it was developing. The interesting part is he could not remember the word for it, but the part of his brain that knew what dementia was, still functioned. So he would say, "I have that thing that starts with the letter d, where I can't remember things". I also remember after he passed, going through things in his home, and finding papers and things he had collected, which were his reminders to himself that he had seen in himself that he couldn't remember. I think for me, one of the most emotional moments I had was finding this poem printed and sitting on his desk: https://www.ellenbailey.com/poems/ellen_112.htm https://www.ellenbailey.com/poems/ellen_112.htm I still miss him and was in awe of the fact that he was going through the stages of dementia but still remembered me, and was aware of it. I think being aware of it almost made it worse, in my opinion.

debo_ 3y ago
That poem is beautiful. Thank you.

gcanyon 3y ago

Agreed: this is why I expect to make this decision — if I have to — (much) earlier than most people would expect.

Try1275 3y ago
For me personally I would like to determine the level of deterioration for lack of a better word where this is done on my behalf. Like an AI monitoring my cognitive levels and pulling the stops at a certain level. I understand how controversial and dystopian this sounds and how many problems this may cause on a society level but it would let me go on a lot longer than if I had to take care of things myself.

BeetleB 3y ago

I wonder how true that is. There are plenty of people who do know it when it starts happening, because it's not a sudden change - so they'll have bouts of complete clarity. In Oregon, there is/was an effort/lawsuit by one person in early stages of Alzheimer's to allow for physician assisted suicide after diagnosis. Currently one of the requirements is such that it precludes being used by dementia patients. Just Googled it - she had to move to another country to get that assisted suicide. There are other anecdotes of people being aware they're falling into dementia. I know a famous writer whose mother knew it and asked him to kill her before it got worse (he refused). So I wonder what proportion do and what don't.