Are Older People Aware of Their Cognitive Decline?

[Ronstar]

I don’t remember names or faces. But I remember everything with a number.

 

[Retired Expat]

I worry a lot about this subject. Both parents had Alz. disease. Symptoms started at about my current age. I hope I see it coming - or rather, I hope it never comes. Mom knew she was slipping, but then resisted intervention. Dad was passive unless he became frightened - then he could be a handful.

Still just hoping not to wake up some sunny morning.

Father had a long decline and a few years back started to notice some of my own. Difficulty walking, lack of concentration, mental fog and memory issues. Started regimen of diet and exercise which helped but was diagnosed with NPH ( excess brain fluid) and recently had a shunt installed. Starting to feel like my old self again!

 

[Chuckanut]

I think the decline hits a point where people can no longer realize how bad things. Get. Some things are obvious, such as having to right more notes to remind yourself to buy more tuna fish and custard tarts.

But, as my parents aged it became obvious that they did not realize how much they had slipped. This was when they were 80+. And there were times when they were quite lucid and thinking rather well. Time becomes fluid in that they can’t be in the present now, and an hour from now they act like it was 20 years ago.

 

[KCGeezer]

And I often have to go back to the doorway to remember why I came into the room in the first place.

My issue is staring into the refrigerator and trying to figure out what it was I got up to get. Once I sit back down I almost always remember,,I got up to go to the bathroom.

 

[wearefinishedworking]

My 85 year old mother is struggling to complete sentences when we are just having small talk and conversing. But if she is relaxed on her sofa, she can clearly recite a whole story about something that happened in 1950. My sense is that she would deny any cognitive decline. She is giving up on lots of things that cause her stress (banking, bill paying, etc.).

 

[Dtail]

My issue is staring into the refrigerator and trying to figure out what it was I got up to get. Once I sit back down I almost always remember,,I got up to go to the bathroom.

Could be a bad combo.

 

[Car-Guy]

I keep my laptop right next to my recliner in the living room. I'm always needing/wanting it to look up something. By the time I open my laptop and enter my pin, I often forget what I was going to lookup, usually because the DW will say something or I get distracted by something on TV. It will usually "pop" back in my head in a few minutes, but it makes me wonder. It seems that I've always had this problem but it seems worse in the past few years.

 

[TheWizard]

My 85 year old mother is struggling to complete sentences when we are just having small talk and conversing. But if she is relaxed on her sofa, she can clearly recite a whole story about something that happened in 1950. My sense is that she would deny any cognitive decline. She is giving up on lots of things that cause her stress (banking, bill paying, etc.).

Hmmm, giving up on your financial responsibilities doesn't seem like a good long-term plan...

 

[easysurfer]

I think probably depends on the person. If the person is perceptive in the first place, then probably yes. But if the person isn't perceptive from the start, than maybe not. That's just my hunch.

I noticed a decline myself like not as easy to focus as much in detail like in past. Of course, doesn't help too that my eyesight not as good either.

I think if the person looked at old video of self from few years back, then light may turn on. Like seeing photos of self and then think "Gosh, I've aged!!"

 

[Tadpole]

If you test yourself using tasks that have the attributes of:
1) I enjoyed this in the past.
2) I was pretty darned good and efficient at it.
3) I could focus intently on it.
4) Two months later, I remember doing it and why.

In my own case I have found that I may still be good at it but, often I do not do it as efficiently and, consequently, do not get the joy feeling while doing it. But I do get the joy feeling if I finish it. Often, my focus isn't as intense as when I was younger, and I often enjoy being distracted. Also, I usually remember doing it and why if it was a focused project. But I am forgetting the why or wherefore for many things I stored on my computer that were less important or less focused. (In my youth, I tended to remember more of these less important, fly-by, efforts and recognized them when reminded by running into them again.)

My major problem: I have outlived my genetic history, and I cannot tell if I just am reacting to the lesser fun/importance of many tasks like watching my portfolio or if I truly am in unperceived degeneration.

 

[GravitySucks]

I turned 65 this year and my Fido Advisor, Credit Union, Insurance Guy, and Doctor all sent notices asking if I have considered what I will do if my cognitive abilities decline.
Even though I think I’m doing well I did write up detailed instructions for DD to follow. She asked me to simplify as far as I’m comfortable doing and to also call and discuss if I change any of my investment plans.

I want to turn everything over to her control before I lose it so decided at 75 it’ll be her problem ( unless DD suggest I need to give it up earlier). I’m thinking I’ll move everything to FPURX plus a 5 year treasury ladder as that would be a low burden on her.

 

[Chuckanut]

I am aware of both changes to my physical and cognitive abilities. I definitely don’t remember fine details as easily as I used to remember them. Physically, I’m not the guy I was 10 years ago. What else is new?

I think the obvious symptom of serious mental decline is when a person simply refuses to believe it’s happening to them. We lose our awareness of our own limitations and will stubbornly disregard any evidence to the contrary no matter how obvious the decline is to everybody else around him. Or her.

 

[Chris7]

My dad passed away at the end of January and he was to stubborn and proud to allow any of us to help him, which in the end, greatly contributed to his death. My mom had passed away the previous October and he declined fairly rapidly after that. I think he felt that he had managed everything up to that point well, and was still doing so. But in reality, he wasn't.

I hope I am open to people calling me out if decline begins to show up. I tend to not be as stubborn as him so hopefully.

cd : O)

 

[Car-Guy]

I am aware of both changes to my physical and cognitive abilities. I definitely don’t remember fine details as easily as I used to remember them. Physically, I’m not the guy I was 10 years ago. What else is new?

When I sold the last of my classic cars a few years ago, I built out a small "gym" in the corner of my shop with good intentions of using it to "keep in shape".

Well my intentions were good.

 

[Scrapr]

Is there a cognitive test your GP can give you? I'm looking for a baseline rather than a decision. Background both parents died in memory care at 85. I'm 68 at the moment. I'd like to measure the loss if possible

 

[CaptTom]

Yes, there is such a test. They give you a series of words, or an address or some such to remember, then chat with you for a while. Then ask you to repeat what you were given.

It's a short-term memory test. That's one of the things which tends to decline with age.

Unfortunately there are those of us who've always had poor short-term memory. I guess I've been senile my whole life. At least dementia will be a smooth transition for me.

 

[braumeister]

Is there a cognitive test your GP can give you? I'm looking for a baseline rather than a decision. Background both parents died in memory care at 85. I'm 68 at the moment. I'd like to measure the loss if possible

There are several such tests. My doc gives it to me every year.
Mini–mental state examination

Here is one version:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/practitioner-pro/bc-guidelines/cogimp-smmse.pdf

 

[Ronstar]

Is there a cognitive test your GP can give you? I'm looking for a baseline rather than a decision. Background both parents died in memory care at 85. I'm 68 at the moment. I'd like to measure the loss if possible

I take one every year as part of my annual medicare exam. Like CaptTom said above ^^, It's a simple test where they give you 3 words to remember at the beginning of the exam. Then chat for a while. Then make you draw what a clock looks like with the numbers on the clock and the hands at a prescribed time. Then they ask you what the 3 words that were given at the beginning of the exam.

It seems easy, but it's tough to remember the 3 words through all of this.

 

[Car-Guy]

Unfortunately there are those of us who've always had poor short-term memory. I guess I've been senile my whole life.

Then they ask you what the 3 words that were given at the beginning of the exam.

It seems easy, but it's tough to remember the 3 words through all of this.

I would have failed such a test 50 years ago. Never could remember such things. I'm even worse at remembering faces. Heck I've seen pictures of myself that I don't recognize.

But, ask me just about anything about old cars, guns or coins that I collected, and I have near perfect recall.

 

[Markola]

There is a significant chance that I could end up on my own, given DW’s family’s shorter lifespans, and mine much longer, and that we don’t have kids.

For finances, my thought is, I want to get everything out of my hands and automated as possible. I want to buy a variety of charitable gift annuities at different institutions, have a charitable remainder trust with a university as trustee, maybe commercial annuities, have a reputable place like Vanguard or another that does tax planning to manage the rest, let SS and all other income live simply hit my checking account. I want to own very little property and live in a rental apartment at a retirement community with people and help around.

That’s probably the best scenario for me and I’m good with it, cognitive decline or whatever.

 

[MichaelB]

I would have failed such a test 50 years ago. Never could remember such things. I'm even worse at remembering faces. Heck I've seen pictures of myself that I don't recognize.

But, ask me just about anything about old cars, guns or coins that I collected, and I have near perfect recall.

This is a good point, and I think it reflects one of the biggest shortcomings of current assessments of cognitive decline. The physician compares a patient's cognitive state against some average or norm, not against that patient’s previous state.

 

[jebmke]

This is a good point, and I think it reflects one of the biggest shortcomings of current assessments of cognitive decline. The physician compares a patient's cognitive state against some average or norm, not against that patient’s previous state.

had this discussion with my doc. He said memory isn't the big issue. I asked how I'll know if I'm NG on cognition. His answer was vague. My response is to batten down the hatches. Portfolio can largely run itself now, despite the fact that I do 100+ tax returns a year, I'm going to outsource mine to an accountant, planning our next move to eliminate dependence on a car so it will be easy to give up the keys.

 

[Badger]

Yes, there is such a test. They give you a series of words, or an address or some such to remember, then chat with you for a while. Then ask you to repeat what you were given.

It's a short-term memory test. That's one of the things which tends to decline with age.

Unfortunately there are those of us who've always had poor short-term memory. I guess I've been senile my whole life. At least dementia will be a smooth transition for me.

Consider too that some of us are not geared toward memorizing but do much better when we understand the "why" of things. The end result of most people when they memorize is that it is either (and most frequently) forgotten or difficult to recall. However, once you understand something it is difficult to forget.

 

[Ronstar]

I would have failed such a test 50 years ago. Never could remember such things. I'm even worse at remembering faces. Heck I've seen pictures of myself that I don't recognize.

But, ask me just about anything about old cars, guns or coins that I collected, and I have near perfect recall.

I would have failed it 50 years ago also. I did fail it a few years ago - only remembered 2 of the 3 words. Now I complete portions of the exam online before going to the dr, reducing the amount of time in the doctor's office. So I now only have to remember the words for 5 minutes or so - that's doable. (so far)

Like you, I can remember anything about things that interest me, but could care less to remember 3 meaningless words.

 

[jebmke]

I would have failed it 50 years ago also. I did fail it a few years ago - only remembered 2 of the 3 words. Now I complete portions of the exam online before going to the dr, reducing the amount of time in the doctor's office. So I now only have to remember the words for 5 minutes or so - that's doable. (so far)

Like you, I can remember anything about things that interest me, but could care less to remember 3 meaningless words.

AFAIK a cognitive exam isn't required. My physician has never performed one; tbf, I don't get physicals and only use him for break-fix.