Are you worried about the development of Alzheimer's?

Yes, have history.

I’m not overly concerned, I do plan to keep exercising the gray matter in hopes that Alz needs a sitting duck to target rather than a moving cell.

Some forms of Alz I actually embrace, we have had friends that developed dementia. We never knew where in the world, or time, they may be when we visited, we always visited them where they were in their mind and had a good visit. At that stage of life, the thought of living a dream is not unattractive. You are where your mind takes you, and most generally it’s a better place than your body presently resides.

I’m not worried about it, no. There’s no history of it in my family. Altho, some days, I think I may be the first. ;-}

It’s a great blessing that I have no personal family history, however, I have seen Alzheimer’s cast a very long shadow over the families of those very close to me. I try and encourage my Mom to stay mentally active and hope to do the same myself. I recently read an article that said chemicals, obesity and smoking have all been linked to Alzheimer’s. So I suppose I’ll try to avoid the obvious links and hope for the best.

My mom has it, and was diagnosed at age 65. No one else in the family has had it, although my grandfather had some dementia, but he was 87 when he died, and had angina since his early 50’s. He died of a heart attack. All of my other grandparents died of cancer.

No one in mother’s family had it. I don’t know about my father’s. I’m not worried very much about it.

I was worried about something but now I don’t remember what it was…...

I like pekenoe’s vision, but I know about two very bright, mentally active people who descended into Alzheimers and knew it . Each of them re-surfaced intermittently, confused and desperate. So much for peaceful dreaming.

Plus, Alzheimer’s doesn’t disable the body.
A person could go on for many years.
Granny doesn’t sit in the corner smiling. She poops in the closet, tears up the books, eats the house plants…. Some one has to watch over her.

I’d choose euthanasia, past a certain point. But because there’s no pain associated with this disease, there are no painkillers involved in care, so the overdose gambit isn’t available. If I were stuck in my own mind for years and had to be constrained and cleaned and fed, and my family knew I’d want to leave them at that point, the pillow over the face would be the next most compassionate recourse.
I don’t want that for them.

Just getting my mother to bathe is a physical battle. She wanders. She says really mean things to people, and is awful to my adorable, well-behaved old niece.

Two of my grandparents each had Alzheimers and they were on my mom’s side (mothers parents). It developed quite late in life for both of them and watching the deterioration of my grandparents was very sad, difficult, and sobering all at the same time.

I exercise on a daily basis and this is something I hope to continue as long as I can until I reach a really old age. I’ve also been an avid reader all my life and I will continue to do that, as much as I can, until I can’t see any more. I don’t know if the exercise and the mental stimulation will prevent Alzheimers altogether but I sincerely hope it will be a strong deterrent.

@susanc My observation was from a quite selfish point of view. Not the life I would choose, nor care to burden anyone with.

Everyone knows Alz is hardest on the ones left, I have friends in that position, I support them in any way I can. Humor helps some days, other days a shoulder to cry on fills the bill.

@pekenoe I’m with you, buddy.

I have seen it close up, and it is one of the many horrible things that run in my family. Some day, stepping in front of a speeding crosstown bus may seem like the best way out. <—this is not a light-hearted quip.

I’ve read that using aluminum cookware can speed up the onset of Alheimer’s, and I’ve also read that nicotine can help prevent or stall the chances of getting it. There is so much misinformation out there (everyone has an agenda) that who knows what is the truth and what is BS. I guess I’ll just do what I love and when I croak, at least I can say I lived my life the best way I knew how, and I had a good time not worrying about stuff I had no control over.

My mother has it. And her mother had it. I am 45 and my memory is pretty crappy. My doc says that’s an effect of the meds I am on and it won’t be permanent. I have talked to him about maybe me having early onset alzheimer’s, but he doesn’t see any indications of it. But yes, I am very very scared. I am hoping a cure is found by the time I am older.
Do I do anything to try and offset it? Nope. My mother was fit as a fiddle, active mentally and physically…it didn’t prevent a damn thing. You hear all the time that this or that may lead to Alz. Whatever, No one knows anything definite. I am just gonna live my life.