68, I can tell my memory is fading.

This sounds like yet another advertisement for a memory improvement app disguised as a question. Reporting for removal

I watched DrSteele56 on Instagram yesterday, who's a neurologist specializing in dementia and Alzheimer's. He has a spice recipe he says reverses cognitive decline and the brain issues of AD and dementia significantly, and wards it off as well. He mixes honey with organic ginger, turmeric, cayenne pepper, Ceylon cinnamon, black pepper and chia seeds and eats a tablespoon a day. The quantity of the spices doesn't matter, and if you hate one, don't add it.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMIxuWEsJ2p/?igsh=MTZxNG1wcm92YzFmNQ==

Braniac, Also want to add that Peter Yexley has a book on Amazon "Self Testing for Dementia" if you are interested.
Another posters just answered on another thread of ways to do home self testing the SAGE testing.
So stay tuned on AC, and read the questions and answers for help.

Hi Bill

Exercise, healthy eating, walking. to name a few

Hi Bill. You tell us "My caregiver got me using the Brainfart app, and I liked it enough to buy the yearly plan. It helps, but........"

Can you please fill us in a bit more on why you have a "caregiver" at what is, for this day and age, a relatively "young" age? I know we all vary, but it's a bit unusual. What led to your having a caregiver?

Secondly, if you would like to assess yourself before discussing this with your doctor for a referral to a good Neuro-psyc MD for assessment, then you can go to YouTube and take both the SLUMS and the MoCa testing that amounts to some 30 or so simple tests and questions to self administer or to do with your caregiver. These will give you a sort of "idea" where you are "at".
Your note to us isn't indicative of someone with severe deficits coming. Ordinarily, someone sinking into early dementia has a good deal of denial going about it, and will react with some drama to anyone suggesting there is forgetfulness or failure.

There are many signs of ordinary aging, that, should we live long enough may or may not proceed on to real dementia. It includes forgetfulness, an inability to multitask well and etc. The mere anxiety over such "failings" and fear of them, can add to what seems like coming dementia.

Wishing you good luck. And do know, as an 82 year old, I am right there with you, worrying about myself, watching myself, checking myself. So many of us are.

I think one thing you can do for yourself is to get out there and be with people. There are hopeful some senior centers nearby that serve lunch, have activities and where you can meet people. Visiting with others is a good way to keep the mind lively, and you can feel much less alone in your fears. The NUNS study that followed a group of nuns for many years indicated early on that those that gave themselves NEW challenges, whether large or small, SEEMED to thrive longer. So that if they were used to and often played cards, branching out to do puzzles, sudoku, etc was good. And so on.

Wishing you the best of luck.

I'm with you. I'm a 73 yr old lady. Recently I forgot my phone number at the check out machine at the super market. And recently I went, with Dr's order/prescription in hand to physical therapist's office to schedule an appointment only to find that I had already done so by phone. Ah me, it begins.
Oh well.

Anyway, what I do...
I swim at a rec center. I joined an indoor rowing club. I play pickle ball (some) and stay social. Although I enjoy reading I don't have patients and rather listen to books while I get something done. I recommend going to flea markets just to walk around and people watch. Maybe you'd like to go to neighborhood ball games in parks and school yards. Go out for coffee or lunch with buddies. For me physical activity and engaging with other people seems a better tonic than brain games. I do small repairs on household things. I go screaming into the night taking on tech-ish challenges but I give it a shot. I just gave up my cable TV boxes replacing them with a smart TV and an Alexa both of which I got up and running.

I too started to mix-up appointments. Before bedtime I check my hardcopy wall calendar to make sure I'm on board for the next day's obligation. I actually have both an upstairs "office" and a kitchen calendar copying information from one to the other.

VERY IMPORTANT!!! DECLUTTER your house, and I mean (almost and nearly) to the bone. Every cabinet, vanity, clothes draw, and that utility draw in the kitchen. Donate books and nick knacks. This is war and you have to be serious about doing this. The mental peace from having only the things you use and need is an indescribable game changer. That plus keeping a ROUTINE is paramount!!!
- Immediately after using anything put that thing back in its one and only place.
- Keep handy often-used tools on an easy to see peg board and, again, NO MATTER WHAT, come heck or high water, put the dang thing away in its place immediately after use. Same thing with shoes. And while I'm at it make sure you straighten your bed every morning. My blanket and top sheet are always folded down to air out the bed. Straightening your bed first thing (or second thing:) is a good habit for the brain and spirit.
Back at the ranch...
- Save your empty medicine bottles. Fill one with screws, another with nails, nuts, washers, etc. and don't save more than a reasonable amount. For cripes sake its not likely that you're ever going to build an ark or need to out fitting the entire neighborhood with supplies. You're not Hut Depot.
Also to make life easy keep small tools like Allen wrenches in a strong see-through zippered tool pouches.

Things you want to absolutely save but know you'll never use or look at, like old photos, or family momentos, place in boxes, clearly label the box of its contents then catalogue, in a composition book or loose leaf book, where you stored the box and its contents. Then put it out of the away.

Thinning out, throwing out and straightening out. It's an overwhelming job but the calm and control you'll realize is priceless. You'll function better and peacefully around your home and this will extend your sense of independence and confidence.

Btw, I strictly drink only distilled water that I process at home and spike with trace minerals.

Stay active. Music is wonderful too. I bop around the house to Motown and sing, as best I can, to almost anything. Shake it up.

Bill,

I'll add eat unprocessed foods. Try to avoid anything with an ingredient list.

You should get about a 20-25% improvement doing the below list.

I can tell the difference with my brain (age 64) and we had good improvement with Mom.

Ditch sugar
Eat lower carb
Fish once or twice a week
Make sure you stay hydrated with plenty of water