I’m haunted by the possibility of developing dementia one day

[u/NoteFabulous3175]

According to the scientific literature, those with ADHD are nearly three times more likely to develop dementia than the general population. I’m only 21 years old, yet I think about that statistic almost everyday. The thought of loosing my mind scares me so much more than the thought of dying. I’m not exactly sure why, but it probably has something to do with witnessing my grandmother slowly die from Alzheimer’s disease, seeing how much my aunt suffers from her schizophrenia, and the time I spent working in nursing home and being physically, sexually, and verbally assaulted by elders with dementia as a teenager, as well as seeing the suffering of those elders. I’ve made peace with the fact that I will die one day, but my only hope is that day will come before the day I loose my mind. I want to spend my last few years of life conscious of my reality and in control of my mind, not slowly wasting away while my neuron’s degenerate and my mind deteriorates until I can no longer recognize myself in the mirror. Until I’m betrayed by my own mind and forced to spit in the face of my own morals by harming a loved one or caretaker. As if my ADHD hasn’t caused and will continue to cause me enough suffering in this life. Such a significant increase in risk of developing dementia just feels like rubbing salt in the wound. I’m not suicidal, but I think I would seriously consider ending things at some point during the early stages of dementia if I develop it one day. It wouldn’t be a choice made out of despair or fear. It would be a choice made out of love for myself and the life I lived, and perhaps what’s even more significant, it would be a choice I would get to make.

Anyone else a bit paranoid about developing dementia? Or how do you reconcile with the possibility of developing it one day?

[u/yk3rgrjs]

Best thing you can do is train strength and cardiovascular endurance.

Not joking.

[u/Haldoldreams → u/yk3rgrjs]

I am getting my PhD studying dementia prevention and yes, exercise is really important and has a more significant effect on dementia prevention than cognitive stimulation, but cognitive stimulation is very powerful in maintaining cognitive functioning, too.

[u/luvvbugg91 → u/Haldoldreams]

Can you give examples of cognitive stimulation? Does coloring count? I hate puzzles. Help me 😭

[u/Haldoldreams → u/luvvbugg91]

Novelty is key! Doing the same "cognitively challenging" task on a daily basis (e.g. daily puzzles or sudoku) has not been found to prevent decline because you are really just solving the same type of problem over and over again. The most effective activities will be those that regularly introduce novel problem-solving opportunities - crafts like sewing, woodworking are great for this, so long as you aren't making the same thing every time. Hobbies like gardening and cooking, but you'd want to introduce new recipes or try growing new plants regularly. Language learning is great for preserving cognitive functioning. Reading. Just regularly trying out new activities and keeping at them so you have the opportunity to solve problems in new ways is great. I think most importantly, you want to find things you enjoy so you stick with them and are genuinely engaged.