Parents with dementia, how dealing with that has gone.

[EddieWalker]

Adding to the high blood pressure issue, the latest i.e. most prevalent cause of dementia is bad teeth. Data shows that eldery persons with less than 20 good teeth remaining at age 70 are 1.4X likely to experience dementia.

I haven't heard the good teeth theory before. Both my parents have bad teeth. I always assumed it was from growing up dirt poor in Northern Canada, without any Dental visits until they were adults.

One of the things that I've always joked about was being the only one in the family with good teeth. My hair is another story, which is why I shave my head, but I got lucky with the Tooth Gene!!!

 

[Runner]

My Dad had full dentures and died of Alzheimer's at 72.

 

[dodge man]

Some times statistics don’t mean a thing. “People that fall from tall buildings have shorter life spans than those that don’t.” Is the tall building the problem? I think the idea is more along the lines that people with good teeth live healthier lives and having bad teeth isn’t directly related to dementia.

 

[kenmbz]

Some times statistics don’t mean a thing. “People that fall from tall buildings have shorter life spans than those that don’t.” Is the tall building the problem? I think the idea is more along the lines that people with good teeth live healthier lives and having bad teeth isn’t directly related to dementia.

My Grandfather and Grandmother on my Mom's side both had dentures
.
GF was in his late 70s and doing fine until his hearing loss got severe.
GM lived to 92 and was active until about 91, then she fell and broke her hip and was never the same.

 

[lman]

My Dad had full dentures and died of Alzheimer's at 72.

My Dad had all of his teeth when he died at 93. He did not have Alzheimer's or dementia.

 

[Otto Syracuse]

I just read about a study that linked gingivitis with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

 

[KubotainNH]

Well, then I should not be relying on family or facility for care. I'll be 75 in October and I still have most of my own teeth. I broke one last year chewing on a Lifesaver. They (teeth) must be getting weaker. I used to chew ice all the time when I was "younger".

If I can just get the upper hand on my RA, I could be very active. It's hard for me to grip the turning ball much less hold a steering wheel. It takes me a half-hour to limber up to griping a cup of coffee in the morning.

Just happened on this thread for no real reason but, a thought for y'all. I'm 17 years younger than you but there are things that can swell up your joints. In my case, if I have too much sugar I can't even shake someone's hand without pain, never mind grip something strongly. I realized the sugar thing a few months ago. Now I can tell when I have too much by the pain in my hands that can move to my shoulders if I have too much refined sugar. Funny thing is, maple syrup is fine so now that's what goes in my coffee but I don't push that either.

 

[Tinhack]

Just happened on this thread for no real reason but, a thought for y'all. I'm 17 years younger than you but there are things that can swell up your joints. In my case, if I have too much sugar I can't even shake someone's hand without pain, never mind grip something strongly. I realized the sugar thing a few months ago. Now I can tell when I have too much by the pain in my hands that can move to my shoulders if I have too much refined sugar. Funny thing is, maple syrup is fine so now that's what goes in my coffee but I don't push that either.

I was doing the finger pricking and testing several times a day for three straight months and didn't ever get a sugar value above 108. I don't think that's it. Anyway, I drink black coffee.

I know why it started with my thumbs. I used to use a planishing hammer in my autobody shop. The vibrations pretty much destroyed my thumb joints at the wrist. The fingers and wrists just followed. I've been "testing" various RA drugs since around 2016. I've tried, I think, three self-injecting drugs. I used to alternate thighs every morning for about three years. None of it did much good for very long. My body kept developing antibodies for each drug and the effectiveness just decreased until the next drug.

I've been on pills, shots and infusions. Each one more powerful than the last. I start a new infusion drug on the 25th. It's given two weeks apart then again in six months so it must be really strong. We'll see.

 

[kenmbz]

Mu Uncle is now repeating himself and forgetting things he did that day or recently.
He is 93 and having trouble walking, full set of teeth, good diet and in home care.

 

[ArlyA]

Mu Uncle is now repeating himself and forgetting things he did that day or recently.
He is 93 and having trouble walking, full set of teeth, good diet and in home care.

So everyone knows its the early stages of dementia?