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What exactly happens to the mind's of some elderly people? I know some and many actually who are still quick witted and sharp, but my dad's mind or brain seems to be weakening. We can be watching a movie or tv show and he will not comprehend the storyline or plot...for example, he wont understand when the story goes from the past to the present to the future. He also cannot comprehend technology...a cell phone or tv remote other than on/off and sound volume (barely)....or a computer. I heard that some people feel like they've learned everything they need to know so they stop learning. Background: My dad is hard of hearing but Will Not opt for hearing aids. And hasn't been diagnosed with Alheizmers or Dementia but I dont what other topic to put this under. Can anyone help me understand?

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After a series of undetected mini strokes, my mother also had trouble following the line of the story if it was a TV program, movie or book. The hearing problem also adds another layer to your father's dilemma. Throw in a couple of modern story line trends and changing language usage, I too lose the thread.

Try either a sound bar that can separate & enhance the sound quality or a small wireless speaker placed closer to his good ear.
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You dad's brain ticks differently. Most important is that oxygen gets to the brain, movement every two hours, and fresh diet and fresh air. Walking helps with dementia patients.
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He is missing a lot of the program due to hearing loss. Otherwise, it is impossible to diagnose. A lot of people don't buy hearing aids as they're not covered by insurance or won't wear them when they're needed. It has to do with not wanting to bother with an aid, such as eyeglasses or a hearing aid.
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humes11 Dec 2019
. Use digital tech headphones for pleasure for listeninng to music and television. Magifying technology for sight.
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your movies and media are mental masturbation and thats giving you the benefit of doubt . stupid sht , means absolutely NOTHING .
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GAinPA Dec 2019
Please consider that a LOT of people need senseless, stupid sh*t every once and awhile. If I didn't have earbuds and Youtube videos to cancel out the sound of the 356th time my mother watched her favorite DVD, I would not have made it through the last seven years.
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Cinot; has your father been EVALUATED for dementia?

It sounds as though he may have some cognitive decline. Talk to his doctor about this.
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NeedHelpWithMom Dec 2019
Barb,

Can you explain if there is cognitive decline without dementia in the elderly.

Let me give an example. I used to watch the Agatha Christie murder mysteries when I was younger. My grandma used to occasionally watch them with me. Once in awhile during a re-enactment scene she would say, “Are they killing that person again?”

It puzzled me that she said that because she was a huge fan of her soap operas and Lord, we all know how those show re-enactments of incidents! She never got confused with her soaps! Hahaha
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Just as the body of one individual ages differently from another, so, too, the mind ages differently. There is likely a lot to do with genetic history, and perhaps some to do with jobs we held (things we inhaled for instance; more Alzheimer's dementia in central valley of California where there is a lot of crop spraying). It is all very poorly understood, and we are on the cusp of learning. In fact when I first entered nursing there was only "senility", a word that covered what we have learned is a set of MANY diseases with MANY causes, from vascular to genetic. This is a massive subject. You won't understand it, as even the experts don't, but daily they learn more, and your search engine is your friend here. Look up dementia. Read books (Oliver Sacks did wonderful easy to understand writing about our brains throughout his career). Wishing you good luck in exploration.
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Loss of hearing shrinks someone's world. I believe that our brains can start losing memories because we don't challenge our brains. Everyone that I know that is elderly and sharp is also physically active and always has been.
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