One-Third of Seniors Have Mental Decline

Source: Washington Post



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/17/AR2008031701881.html?hpid=topnews

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Something for McCain voters to think about. . .

This is deeply personal. I'm sure we all have older family members we worry about.

To start:

* stem cell research

say that since McCain is in the age bracket.....
I am in my fiftys and have trouble remembering things myself. :)

Get 'em in their while they're young, I say, 'cause I'm 50 and I can't remember a damn thing.

I sometimes lose track of what year it is. That damned 21st century crap got me all screwed up.

One of us is screwed, and it's not you. :-)

People are often forced to stay behind locked doors for fear or because they can't afford to go anywhere. They have no way or no finances to join those day centers just for seniors where they exercise their mind and their body as well as give them a nutritional meal. Many do not eat right and often sit in front of a tv screen all day. Many seniors don't have family members either that could keep them a bit more active.
When you have no money and your health as not good you lose a lot of options. When your medicines take up all your spare cash you often can't eat right. When you live in a poor neighborhood just taking a walk might be dangerous. Those who have the luxury of money,transportation,health etc can afford daycare,a nice stroll or have healthful meals home delivered.
Many seniors today are very much alone and that might start their mental decline in many directions.

It's long been known that we undergo two or three mental reorganizations in life, the last one starting around the "change of life". It gradually becomes harder to remember facts quickly, but in compensation we get an improvement in making connections between facts and concepts. But people who are socially deprived get less of the mental stimulation that helps with that process, so they lose the quick-recall function while getting only a meager increase in the make-connections function.

There are so many reasons for changing how our world works.

That would certainly explain a lot...

Jokes aside, getting this info quantified is big. We are facing an explosion in the next few years of older folks and the resources needed are not in place.

Were all of them over 90? Were 90% over 88? Were 79% over 87? We don't know. Trash.

I have friends who are 95 and 94 and 85. Smarter and sharper than I've ever been. I meet with 100 people who are interested in a subject every month, most are well over 70, and into their 80s and 90s. Dynamic, sharp, interested and interesting people. They enjoy cocktails, too. And smart jokes. Their bodies are wrinkly, but their minds are quick and sharp.

This article is complete shit. It seeks to diminish elder people and their worth, energy, intelligence and abilities. Why didn't they make the cut-off age at 52? Or 37 or 61? I'm dumber at 57 than many of the people at age 80 that I know.

I agree with you in that I know a number of people over age 80 who are sharp, intelligent and vital. It is a fact, though, that one's risk of developing dementias of various kinds increases with age. Alzheimer's, to choose the most prevalent, is found in about 10% of people over 65 It's found in almost 50% of people over age 85. Age is one of the primary risk factors for Alzheimer's. Like you I don't want to see our elders diminished in people's views in any way -- hell, I'm not that far from being one of 'em! But yes, statistics matter. Knowing the full of vitality & smarts of people we encounter over say 80 doesn't change the fact that there are millions of Americans in that same age group who need help. And yes, that number is going to grow with the baby boomer generation. Are we ever going to institute policies that address that problem? So far, we haven't. I prefer to address the problem before it gets here but it seems the US won't since so far there's been a lot of hand-wringing but no action. Now there's a big surprise.

my mental faculties are declining so that must be why I am on a DU message board....heh heh :banghead:

Shit man, sometimes I forget what day it is. I forget tons of stuff. I hate John McCain, but this is really not a good way to put the guy down (he's old! oh no! Oh, shit! So is Clinton! The sky is falling!).

We really don't give a fuck. Every day is Saturday to us.

Now get off my lawn.

who can blame us ? I am one of this group and most of the seniors I know, want to hear nothing of this mess we are in. It is easier for them to curl up into a fetal position. Can you blame them? Unfortunately, the one subject I never forget is politics, and how we have been led into total destruction by our "leaders" and their enablers. And yes, those poor schumcks will vote for McCain.

Do crosswords! Keeps the brain sharp!

works wonders for that old brain.....

and just figured that it was from lack of oxygen from having their heads shoved up Shrub's butt for 7 years.

Of course, 98% of them have no spine.

:rofl:

probably improve dramatically. Doctors keep adding drugs and they never take them away.

I think I can tell you which Third of Senators is suffering "Mental Decline".