What do you do for yourself to prevent dementia?

[Anonymous]

It seems that most people I know with dementia are alcoholics, abused drugs, eat a poor diet or have brain injuries. Once the damage is done, it’s done.

[Anonymous]

I know it sounds ridiculous, but I eat maple syrup regularly, usually putting it in my coffee as a sweetener. I understand it may be mostly a placebo effect, and I can accept that, as long as I remain somewhat functional. I’m certainly not recommending it as medical advice. Here’s how it started:

A few years ago, I was having cognitive issues. I had constant brain fog and found it hard to concentrate. Multiple times I blanked and lost track of what I was doing (like in the middle of cooking dinner I’d forget what was happening and only when I looked around and saw that I had a can in one hand, a can opener in the other, and was standing in front of a bowl did I remember that I was cooking dinner and needed to open the can). Then, It got worse. I had an in incident where I washed my hands and turned around to dry my hands on the towel directly behind me in my small bathroom when I blanked. Not only did I not know what I was doing, I had no idea where I was. I actually had to stop and make sure I knew who I was. Then I looked at my surroundings and realized that I was in a bathroom and then I processed that it was my bathroom (where I’d lived for about 25 years). Finally I felt I could try and figure out what was going on, at which point I discovered my hands were dripping wet, which explained why when I had rebooted, I’d been staring at the blank wall above the towel rack. While losing track of what you’re doing is scary enough, not knowing where you are is far worse, and the fact that you can’t assume that knowledge of your own identity is a given is terrifying.

In the midst of these troubles, one day I was struck by an insatiable craving for maple syrup. Cravings aren’t uncommon for me, and I’ve learned to go along with them. They seem to reflect some type of nutritional deficiency or chemical imbalance, because I always feel better afterwards and research after the fact usually shows some connection to whatever problem gets better. This day I ate a ridiculous amount of bread, butter, and syrup, and my thinking (aside from an obsessive drive to eat more syrup) felt like it got a lot clearer. Skeptical, I looked it up and to my surprise, there seemed to be sone limited preliminary data suggesting that maple syrup might be helpful in reducing the neural clumping associated with Alzheimer’s.

I don’t know if my problems were related to Alzheimer’s. I don’t know that the syrup actually did anything or if I’m just benefiting from a placebo effect. All I know is that whatever may actually be happening inside my brain, I function better with regular intake of maple syrup. Like any sweetener, I have to worry about excess sugar, but I don’t think there are other significant side effects, frankly I have a sweet tooth and I’d undoubtedly be having something sweet regardless. It is more expensive than other sweeteners, but not as expensive as being nonfunctional, and avoiding the panic is worth it. I’ve noticed that if I don’t have it for a while, thinking tends to be more difficult.

I want to stress that I am not suggesting it would help anyone else. This is just about my personal experience, and I’m not sure it’s even effective for me. I just feel like for me there are minimal drawbacks and any possible benefits are worth it, in my non-expert opinion, for my specific case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know it sounds ridiculous, but I eat maple syrup regularly, usually putting it in my coffee as a sweetener. I understand it may be mostly a placebo effect, and I can accept that, as long as I remain somewhat functional. I’m certainly not recommending it as medical advice. Here’s how it started:

A few years ago, I was having cognitive issues. I had constant brain fog and found it hard to concentrate. Multiple times I blanked and lost track of what I was doing (like in the middle of cooking dinner I’d forget what was happening and only when I looked around and saw that I had a can in one hand, a can opener in the other, and was standing in front of a bowl did I remember that I was cooking dinner and needed to open the can). Then, It got worse. I had an in incident where I washed my hands and turned around to dry my hands on the towel directly behind me in my small bathroom when I blanked. Not only did I not know what I was doing, I had no idea where I was. I actually had to stop and make sure I knew who I was. Then I looked at my surroundings and realized that I was in a bathroom and then I processed that it was my bathroom (where I’d lived for about 25 years). Finally I felt I could try and figure out what was going on, at which point I discovered my hands were dripping wet, which explained why when I had rebooted, I’d been staring at the blank wall above the towel rack. While losing track of what you’re doing is scary enough, not knowing where you are is far worse, and the fact that you can’t assume that knowledge of your own identity is a given is terrifying.

In the midst of these troubles, one day I was struck by an insatiable craving for maple syrup. Cravings aren’t uncommon for me, and I’ve learned to go along with them. They seem to reflect some type of nutritional deficiency or chemical imbalance, because I always feel better afterwards and research after the fact usually shows some connection to whatever problem gets better. This day I ate a ridiculous amount of bread, butter, and syrup, and my thinking (aside from an obsessive drive to eat more syrup) felt like it got a lot clearer. Skeptical, I looked it up and to my surprise, there seemed to be sone limited preliminary data suggesting that maple syrup might be helpful in reducing the neural clumping associated with Alzheimer’s.

I don’t know if my problems were related to Alzheimer’s. I don’t know that the syrup actually did anything or if I’m just benefiting from a placebo effect. All I know is that whatever may actually be happening inside my brain, I function better with regular intake of maple syrup. Like any sweetener, I have to worry about excess sugar, but I don’t think there are other significant side effects, frankly I have a sweet tooth and I’d undoubtedly be having something sweet regardless. It is more expensive than other sweeteners, but not as expensive as being nonfunctional, and avoiding the panic is worth it. I’ve noticed that if I don’t have it for a while, thinking tends to be more difficult.

I want to stress that I am not suggesting it would help anyone else. This is just about my personal experience, and I’m not sure it’s even effective for me. I just feel like for me there are minimal drawbacks and any possible benefits are worth it, in my non-expert opinion, for my specific case.

Interesting. I think I will sub maple syrup for my current sweetener.

[Anonymous]

This is what I have been doing -

1. Yoga, breathing exercise, walking, weights, stretching and balancing exercises

2. Shingles vaccine, flu and covid vaccines

3. Dental health - brushing, water pik, oil pulling, using copper tongue cleaner to clean tongue and salt/baking powder mouth rinse. Twice a year cleaning.

4. Gut health - Pomegranate juice, lots of fruits and veggies, keffir/yogurt, Inulin

5. Eye Health - Stare at the early morning redness of the dawn, eye tests, lid scrub, castor oil on eyelids, Eye Exercises and Tratak, warm eye compresses.

6. Ear Health - Protect ears in airplanes, cinema, concerts, listening to music. I am always carrying disposable ear
plugs. Castor oil on the base of the outer ears. Hearing test. LOTS AND LOTS OF BRAHMARI pranayama.

7. Turmeric (to reduce inflammation) - One or two shots of warm golden milk and pepper. Drink Ginger-Turmeric tea. Test inflammation through blood tests - Quest and Labcorp will do it for you for a couple hundred bucks - ESR, Sensitive ESR and C-Reactive Protein.

8. Manage blood sugar and high BP.

9. Manage cholesterol by diet, exercise, taking vitamin K2 MK7 + Magnesium + D3 + B Complex.

10. Mainly Whole Plant Based Diet. Lots of colorful fruits and veggies every day. All animal products are fresh, organic and not processed. No ultra-processed food.

11. No smoking, drinking, risky behavior. A good family atmosphere.

12. Learn foreign language or memorize poetry. Recite poetry loudly. Sing songs (use karaoke if you can). Daily Sudoku, Cross words or other mental exercises.

13. Good hydration. 2-3 liters of water with lemon daily. Alkaline diet.

14. No harsh chemicals or air freshners used at home.

15. Prayers and meditation. Stress reduction. Good sleep is super important.

16. Connect with family and friends. Help others. Find happiness.

17. Induce Autophagy by fasting. Annually do 10 - 15 days of OMAD at least twice or thrice.

18. Last meal by 6 pm. Do not eat or sleep in excess.

19. Nose health - Do Nasysa regularly. Alternate nostril breathing. Wear masks in public places. Vacuum and keep home dust free. Do not pluck nose hair. Cut nose hair if required.

20. Protect your head from injury.

[Anonymous]

Think of your brain is the CPU and your senses the input devices. So, take care of your skin, vision, hearing, sense of smell, sense of taste and mouth/dental health. And certainly what you eat, feel, think, hear. Consume good thoughts and protect yourself from bystander trauma.

I have stopped most social media and news.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sister, BIL and I made a suicide pact this holiday. Dark, I know, but spending time with older family members with Alzheimers underscored for all of us that we don’t want to live with this disease.

Your kids, if you have any, will have something to say about that when the time comes.

We’ve told them too (they’re early 20s) and they agree that living with Alzheimers is no way to live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sister, BIL and I made a suicide pact this holiday. Dark, I know, but spending time with older family members with Alzheimers underscored for all of us that we don’t want to live with this disease.

I’ve already made my own plans for this and have told my SO. It’ll be a trip to Switzerland once the symptoms start to show. I’m in my mid-forties, so hopefully have a ways to go yet, but it runs in the family so I know it’s coming…

Switzerland is my plan if I start to develop symptoms. I exercise, eat relatively well, drink very little alcohol. I currently use my brain a lot for work but will replace with language lessons and crosswords when I retire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know it sounds ridiculous, but I eat maple syrup regularly, usually putting it in my coffee as a sweetener. I understand it may be mostly a placebo effect, and I can accept that, as long as I remain somewhat functional. I’m certainly not recommending it as medical advice. Here’s how it started:

A few years ago, I was having cognitive issues. I had constant brain fog and found it hard to concentrate. Multiple times I blanked and lost track of what I was doing (like in the middle of cooking dinner I’d forget what was happening and only when I looked around and saw that I had a can in one hand, a can opener in the other, and was standing in front of a bowl did I remember that I was cooking dinner and needed to open the can). Then, It got worse. I had an in incident where I washed my hands and turned around to dry my hands on the towel directly behind me in my small bathroom when I blanked. Not only did I not know what I was doing, I had no idea where I was. I actually had to stop and make sure I knew who I was. Then I looked at my surroundings and realized that I was in a bathroom and then I processed that it was my bathroom (where I’d lived for about 25 years). Finally I felt I could try and figure out what was going on, at which point I discovered my hands were dripping wet, which explained why when I had rebooted, I’d been staring at the blank wall above the towel rack. While losing track of what you’re doing is scary enough, not knowing where you are is far worse, and the fact that you can’t assume that knowledge of your own identity is a given is terrifying.

In the midst of these troubles, one day I was struck by an insatiable craving for maple syrup. Cravings aren’t uncommon for me, and I’ve learned to go along with them. They seem to reflect some type of nutritional deficiency or chemical imbalance, because I always feel better afterwards and research after the fact usually shows some connection to whatever problem gets better. This day I ate a ridiculous amount of bread, butter, and syrup, and my thinking (aside from an obsessive drive to eat more syrup) felt like it got a lot clearer. Skeptical, I looked it up and to my surprise, there seemed to be sone limited preliminary data suggesting that maple syrup might be helpful in reducing the neural clumping associated with Alzheimer’s.

I don’t know if my problems were related to Alzheimer’s. I don’t know that the syrup actually did anything or if I’m just benefiting from a placebo effect. All I know is that whatever may actually be happening inside my brain, I function better with regular intake of maple syrup. Like any sweetener, I have to worry about excess sugar, but I don’t think there are other significant side effects, frankly I have a sweet tooth and I’d undoubtedly be having something sweet regardless. It is more expensive than other sweeteners, but not as expensive as being nonfunctional, and avoiding the panic is worth it. I’ve noticed that if I don’t have it for a while, thinking tends to be more difficult.

I want to stress that I am not suggesting it would help anyone else. This is just about my personal experience, and I’m not sure it’s even effective for me. I just feel like for me there are minimal drawbacks and any possible benefits are worth it, in my non-expert opinion, for my specific case.

There are tons of older, sharp Canadians so there might be something to this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know it sounds ridiculous, but I eat maple syrup regularly, usually putting it in my coffee as a sweetener. I understand it may be mostly a placebo effect, and I can accept that, as long as I remain somewhat functional. I’m certainly not recommending it as medical advice. Here’s how it started:

A few years ago, I was having cognitive issues. I had constant brain fog and found it hard to concentrate. Multiple times I blanked and lost track of what I was doing (like in the middle of cooking dinner I’d forget what was happening and only when I looked around and saw that I had a can in one hand, a can opener in the other, and was standing in front of a bowl did I remember that I was cooking dinner and needed to open the can). Then, It got worse. I had an in incident where I washed my hands and turned around to dry my hands on the towel directly behind me in my small bathroom when I blanked. Not only did I not know what I was doing, I had no idea where I was. I actually had to stop and make sure I knew who I was. Then I looked at my surroundings and realized that I was in a bathroom and then I processed that it was my bathroom (where I’d lived for about 25 years). Finally I felt I could try and figure out what was going on, at which point I discovered my hands were dripping wet, which explained why when I had rebooted, I’d been staring at the blank wall above the towel rack. While losing track of what you’re doing is scary enough, not knowing where you are is far worse, and the fact that you can’t assume that knowledge of your own identity is a given is terrifying.

In the midst of these troubles, one day I was struck by an insatiable craving for maple syrup. Cravings aren’t uncommon for me, and I’ve learned to go along with them. They seem to reflect some type of nutritional deficiency or chemical imbalance, because I always feel better afterwards and research after the fact usually shows some connection to whatever problem gets better. This day I ate a ridiculous amount of bread, butter, and syrup, and my thinking (aside from an obsessive drive to eat more syrup) felt like it got a lot clearer. Skeptical, I looked it up and to my surprise, there seemed to be sone limited preliminary data suggesting that maple syrup might be helpful in reducing the neural clumping associated with Alzheimer’s.

I don’t know if my problems were related to Alzheimer’s. I don’t know that the syrup actually did anything or if I’m just benefiting from a placebo effect. All I know is that whatever may actually be happening inside my brain, I function better with regular intake of maple syrup. Like any sweetener, I have to worry about excess sugar, but I don’t think there are other significant side effects, frankly I have a sweet tooth and I’d undoubtedly be having something sweet regardless. It is more expensive than other sweeteners, but not as expensive as being nonfunctional, and avoiding the panic is worth it. I’ve noticed that if I don’t have it for a while, thinking tends to be more difficult.

I want to stress that I am not suggesting it would help anyone else. This is just about my personal experience, and I’m not sure it’s even effective for me. I just feel like for me there are minimal drawbacks and any possible benefits are worth it, in my non-expert opinion, for my specific case.

Interesting. I think I will sub maple syrup for my current sweetener.

Buddy the Elf seems to be doing fine

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know it sounds ridiculous, but I eat maple syrup regularly, usually putting it in my coffee as a sweetener. I understand it may be mostly a placebo effect, and I can accept that, as long as I remain somewhat functional. I’m certainly not recommending it as medical advice. Here’s how it started:

A few years ago, I was having cognitive issues. I had constant brain fog and found it hard to concentrate. Multiple times I blanked and lost track of what I was doing (like in the middle of cooking dinner I’d forget what was happening and only when I looked around and saw that I had a can in one hand, a can opener in the other, and was standing in front of a bowl did I remember that I was cooking dinner and needed to open the can). Then, It got worse. I had an in incident where I washed my hands and turned around to dry my hands on the towel directly behind me in my small bathroom when I blanked. Not only did I not know what I was doing, I had no idea where I was. I actually had to stop and make sure I knew who I was. Then I looked at my surroundings and realized that I was in a bathroom and then I processed that it was my bathroom (where I’d lived for about 25 years). Finally I felt I could try and figure out what was going on, at which point I discovered my hands were dripping wet, which explained why when I had rebooted, I’d been staring at the blank wall above the towel rack. While losing track of what you’re doing is scary enough, not knowing where you are is far worse, and the fact that you can’t assume that knowledge of your own identity is a given is terrifying.

In the midst of these troubles, one day I was struck by an insatiable craving for maple syrup. Cravings aren’t uncommon for me, and I’ve learned to go along with them. They seem to reflect some type of nutritional deficiency or chemical imbalance, because I always feel better afterwards and research after the fact usually shows some connection to whatever problem gets better. This day I ate a ridiculous amount of bread, butter, and syrup, and my thinking (aside from an obsessive drive to eat more syrup) felt like it got a lot clearer. Skeptical, I looked it up and to my surprise, there seemed to be sone limited preliminary data suggesting that maple syrup might be helpful in reducing the neural clumping associated with Alzheimer’s.

I don’t know if my problems were related to Alzheimer’s. I don’t know that the syrup actually did anything or if I’m just benefiting from a placebo effect. All I know is that whatever may actually be happening inside my brain, I function better with regular intake of maple syrup. Like any sweetener, I have to worry about excess sugar, but I don’t think there are other significant side effects, frankly I have a sweet tooth and I’d undoubtedly be having something sweet regardless. It is more expensive than other sweeteners, but not as expensive as being nonfunctional, and avoiding the panic is worth it. I’ve noticed that if I don’t have it for a while, thinking tends to be more difficult.

I want to stress that I am not suggesting it would help anyone else. This is just about my personal experience, and I’m not sure it’s even effective for me. I just feel like for me there are minimal drawbacks and any possible benefits are worth it, in my non-expert opinion, for my specific case.

Interesting. I think I will sub maple syrup for my current sweetener.

Buddy the Elf seems to be doing fine

My immediate thought as well!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sister, BIL and I made a suicide pact this holiday. Dark, I know, but spending time with older family members with Alzheimers underscored for all of us that we don’t want to live with this disease.

I’ve already made my own plans for this and have told my SO. It’ll be a trip to Switzerland once the symptoms start to show. I’m in my mid-forties, so hopefully have a ways to go yet, but it runs in the family so I know it’s coming…

Switzerland is my plan if I start to develop symptoms. I exercise, eat relatively well, drink very little alcohol. I currently use my brain a lot for work but will replace with language lessons and crosswords when I retire.

FYI

Learning a language later in life is not proven to help. The studies have shown knowing and speaking two or more languages helps if done throughout life—not in older age.

While I was disappointed to learn this, I will still continue my language acquisition.

DP

[Anonymous]

Doing my best to stay off of PPI's.

$1500 hearing aids from Cosco at first sign of hearing decline

Plenty of sleep
Low sugar, lower carbs
Eat unprocessed

When I don't get enough sleep or eat too much sugar or processed foods I find myself hunting for words.

Ballroom dance
Latin dances
Swing dance
Texas two step (which is really beautiful)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know it sounds ridiculous, but I eat maple syrup regularly, usually putting it in my coffee as a sweetener. I understand it may be mostly a placebo effect, and I can accept that, as long as I remain somewhat functional. I’m certainly not recommending it as medical advice. Here’s how it started:

A few years ago, I was having cognitive issues. I had constant brain fog and found it hard to concentrate. Multiple times I blanked and lost track of what I was doing (like in the middle of cooking dinner I’d forget what was happening and only when I looked around and saw that I had a can in one hand, a can opener in the other, and was standing in front of a bowl did I remember that I was cooking dinner and needed to open the can). Then, It got worse. I had an in incident where I washed my hands and turned around to dry my hands on the towel directly behind me in my small bathroom when I blanked. Not only did I not know what I was doing, I had no idea where I was. I actually had to stop and make sure I knew who I was. Then I looked at my surroundings and realized that I was in a bathroom and then I processed that it was my bathroom (where I’d lived for about 25 years). Finally I felt I could try and figure out what was going on, at which point I discovered my hands were dripping wet, which explained why when I had rebooted, I’d been staring at the blank wall above the towel rack. While losing track of what you’re doing is scary enough, not knowing where you are is far worse, and the fact that you can’t assume that knowledge of your own identity is a given is terrifying.

In the midst of these troubles, one day I was struck by an insatiable craving for maple syrup. Cravings aren’t uncommon for me, and I’ve learned to go along with them. They seem to reflect some type of nutritional deficiency or chemical imbalance, because I always feel better afterwards and research after the fact usually shows some connection to whatever problem gets better. This day I ate a ridiculous amount of bread, butter, and syrup, and my thinking (aside from an obsessive drive to eat more syrup) felt like it got a lot clearer. Skeptical, I looked it up and to my surprise, there seemed to be sone limited preliminary data suggesting that maple syrup might be helpful in reducing the neural clumping associated with Alzheimer’s.

I don’t know if my problems were related to Alzheimer’s. I don’t know that the syrup actually did anything or if I’m just benefiting from a placebo effect. All I know is that whatever may actually be happening inside my brain, I function better with regular intake of maple syrup. Like any sweetener, I have to worry about excess sugar, but I don’t think there are other significant side effects, frankly I have a sweet tooth and I’d undoubtedly be having something sweet regardless. It is more expensive than other sweeteners, but not as expensive as being nonfunctional, and avoiding the panic is worth it. I’ve noticed that if I don’t have it for a while, thinking tends to be more difficult.

I want to stress that I am not suggesting it would help anyone else. This is just about my personal experience, and I’m not sure it’s even effective for me. I just feel like for me there are minimal drawbacks and any possible benefits are worth it, in my non-expert opinion, for my specific case.

Incredibly interesting. When I can I will sub real maple syrup for white sugar.

[Anonymous]

It seems that most people I know with dementia are alcoholics, abused drugs, eat a poor diet or have brain injuries. Once the damage is done, it’s done.

My mother developed alzheimers (mixed type) in her early 80s. She rarely drank and if so, a half glass of wine, never took drugs, ate exceedinly well and was on the 'no processed foods' bandwagon from the 1970s onward, regularly did crosswords and read in multiple languages, and never had a brain injury. She did take PPIs for years as well as a plethora of (probably unnecessary) allergy meds and she had lifelong poor sleep schedule.

My MIL lived until 94 cognitively sound,never exercisesd in her life, had wine or prosecco and dessert every night and smoked for 40 years. My dad has pretty terrible eating habits, no exercise, drinks nightly and while he is in poor physical health, at 86 he is cognitively sound.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sister, BIL and I made a suicide pact this holiday. Dark, I know, but spending time with older family members with Alzheimers underscored for all of us that we don’t want to live with this disease.

Your kids, if you have any, will have something to say about that when the time comes.

We’ve told them too (they’re early 20s) and they agree that living with Alzheimers is no way to live.

20s are a lovely time. Such black and white thinking

If they are in their 40s or 50s when the time comes...