Do I have early dementia ?

[picard]

I have a uneasy feeling that I have early dementia.

I tend to forget how to spell words, people names, street names. I misplace things.

my memory isn't as sharp as I was in my 20s. I have a hard time retaining stuff from reading text books.

[kilted_scotsman]

I get that feeling sometimes.... a history of it in my family... early onset is more genetically based.

Best thing is to go to the doctor... over here they refer to a memory clinic which tracks memory loss.

kilted

[jjwalters]

Google "The 10 warning signs of dementia". The questions and info are extremely helpful in getting a good idea of where you stand.

[Gadfly]

I can never remember peoples names. Sometimes, if it's a difficult name to remember, I'll ask them to spell it.

[Shevey]

It's not completely out of the realm of possibility. My mother was told that she had the beginnings of dementia when she was 48 or so. She's 58 now and those who have known her a long time or see her often can tell. If you're worried, see a doc?

[TheChemicals]

I fear dementia too. The bad person inside of me tells me that if i get dementia i should "go out in a blaze of glory" and end it all.

[anonymouslyadd]

How old are you Picard? People with ADD have working memories of those in their 50's and 60's. Dementia risks increase the older you get.

My late aunt had it, and I can remember her forgetting things very easily. It turns out that I am the same way, but I don't believe I have dementia. It's ADD.

[Shevey]

Originally Posted by anonymouslyadd

How old are you Picard? People with ADD have working memories of those in their 50's and 60's. Dementia risks increase the older you get.

My late aunt had it, and I can remember her forgetting things very easily. It turns out that I am the same way, but I don't believe I have dementia. It's ADD.

I think the diff between ADHD and actual dementia is that ADHD is an all the time thing whereas dementia is a gradual (or sometimes dramatic) decline in mental faculties. They do say, however, that a good diet, exercise and keeping your brain actively engaged can help stall the degradation.

[ana futura]

And Sudoku!!!

[AdvChaser]

I was worried my memory was going in my 30s. I remember reading that Albert Einstein never remembered anything he could easily look up and that gave me a glimmer of hope. I find the more mentally challenging things I do, the better my memory seems to be. I think many people share this nagging thought at some time or another.

And doctors, well, they try, but absent spending a whole lot of time with you at considerable cost, they are only going to know what you tell them and I am not sure they can really diagnose anyone in average 15 minute office visit.

Of course, like Dennis Miller, that's only my opinion and I could be wrong.

[picard]

Originally Posted by anonymouslyadd

How old are you Picard? People with ADD have working memories of those in their 50's and 60's. Dementia risks increase the older you get.

My late aunt had it, and I can remember her forgetting things very easily. It turns out that I am the same way, but I don't believe I have dementia. It's ADD.

I am in mid 40. I feel ancient as the Eyptian Pharaoph.

[Conman]

you may be in a funk. if it's something that has been going on for a while maybe youre stressed or just getting subpar memory. doesnt necessarily mean youve got early dementia if you have some memory problems, which seem to be a common aspect of any AD/HD form or another.

[Ipsofacto]

From my experience and from reading about all the people with late diagnosis of ADD, it appears that changes or traumatic events in our lives can cause our ADD symptoms to get worse. It's why I (and it seems many others) end up with a mid/late life diagnosis. There were times before my diagnosis that I worried about dementia, but now looking back I can see the memory lapses were always a part of my life from an early age.

I know that during periods when things were going well for me and as it happens, times when I participated in mindful activities, those dementia like moments were far fewer.

[MX2012]

Originally Posted by TheChemicals

I fear dementia too. The bad person inside of me tells me that if i get dementia i should "go out in a blaze of glory" and end it all.

TheChemicals--you got it, it's scary to think about.

As I said to a friend, by the time I know who I am, I won't recognize myself.