The wee hours.

[Enzo]

Oh, my day is winding down, I am getting nothing done. And more importantly, my evening can of beer is about at end. Don't worry, I never have more than one, and do all my tube work before having any at all. But the shop is peaceful. The CBS news feed from WBBM has been iffy all night so I turned it off. I looked and there were six of us here online... plus 300 "guests." I assume most of the guests are googlebots and their brothers. Still, 300 of them? I suppose a few lurkers, but mostly...bots. Do googlebots have e-beer after a long day?

I like doing this, the steady stream of puzzles to solve, made more challenging because we have to do it remotely. But can I diagnose a problem without laying eyes on the product? Probably. Feels good when you get it, feels bad when you don't. Fun to watch people learn. Utter novices get that little gleam of understanding. They start to realize what an ocean of knowledge this electronics really is. Then experienced guys get epiphanies too. Something falls into place that had never quite been there before. That is fun too.

One of these days I will learn how MOSFETs work. OH I have a glimmer, but internalized? Nah. And one day, hopefully within my lifetime, I am going to remember on the JFETs which way the arrow points for P and N channels. After all these decades, all I can remember is something about them is "backwards." I just look at the circuit and see what voltage to expect, and a J111 is a J111 whether it is P or N. SO I don't HAVE to know to replace a bad one. But still I OUGHT to.

America finally goes mostly to sleep, Europe wakes up, the conversation shifts some.

When I am not doing this electronic troubleshooting stuff, I do lots of crossword puzzles, and number puzzles - the sudokus and stuff. Exercises for the mind. Does it help keep one sharp? I don't know. A couple years ago when my heart failure had me down, I thought I was losing it. Happily, it was just a lack of oxygen in my blood, but it made me think, my mind is not forever.

My favorite uncle is dying from final stage alzheimers. He was a great guy, liked to laugh. I liked making him laugh. When I was a kid in college and ran into drugs and the law, he and my aunt were supportive. Uncle is in his 80s now, and in the last year has stopped recognizing his kids, my cousins. And finally in the last few days he has become unresponsive, and plans are being made for the inevitable. Painful for all of us, but I think maybe not for him.

When your mind stops working, what is there left? I can understand arthritis or cancer or a heart attack. But when your mind dissolves, wow, what could be more frightening?

[gtrplayr1976]

Very familiar. I recently lost my mother with this. She really wasn't the mother I knew through the last few months of her life. It's a tough thing to go through.

[km6xz]

Those mind exercises, particularly learning math, music and languages seem to be about the only current method of delaying or foregoing geriatric dementia and early onset alzheimers. People are living longer than their brains are prepared for. Alzheimers is a modern disease in that before antibiotics, there were so few old people that is was not common. I have noticed a definite difference in elderly here in Russia, men tend to die off sooner but the women are usually invited to the home of their children and assume co-parenting duties. Being responsible for a child most of the day, cooking, walking the child to school and back, and generally being useful and having a purpose in getting up in the morning, keeps these older ladies sharp and it is rare to hear of one developing dementia. In the US, children often avoid having a grandparent in the home, and if they are present, resent the grandmother's attempts to co-parent. Rapid deterioration of mental faculties is the normal when people have lost their usefulness.

Developing and maintaining a curious mind, that never retires, seems to be the key to a quality life after 70s or so. A disproportion of fully functioning seniors are in careers that there is no retirement age such as writers, musicians, scientists, artists and others who are still actively creating things past the time of normal retirement. If one has not lived a curious, mentally active life when young, it is not likely to start later on. I am afraid that that latter group is, by far, the majority.
A good self check is the number of hours each day used watching passive entertainment versus creating something that never existed before or unknown to the person.
If someone was interested in a creative hobby, for best impact on mental health, it should be one that is open ended. By that I mean not being a pastime where it is a predefined activity, as opposed to an open ended one that has no goal or end point and requires exploring and researching in original ways. For example an opened ended hobby gift for someone might be a set of tools and a closed end gift would be a kit or computer game. What you do with a set of tools is not constrained by the designer's limits. A pen is more of a creative tool than a iPad for example. The designer of the pen or pencil has no idea nor care what you do with it. Getting someone a TV set is probably the least helpful gift of all. I doubt I have met anyone in years who was aware of the world AND watched more than 2 hours of TV a day.
I read one study which listed playing music as not using the creative brain processes as much as writing original music or learning a new instrument, or new language. Both of those activities are very close to how a young child's learning before 5-7 years old. By 7, some of the brain wiring is being re-wired to learn other skills while before that, much of the brain activity is acquiring the very complex skill of language. Teaching music, foreign languages or mathematics before 5 is a tremendous gift to a child, and the period of life where it is the most fun and easiest for them. An older person taking on those learning tasks will have a lot more trouble but will receive a lot of benefit from doing so.

Another indicator of whether one is suited to creative pursuits is whether one approaches it as open ended, and with it, digs deeply into the field as to create new novel solutions. I can always tell whether a beginner is going to have what it takes to be a great tech or recording engineer. Before even approaching for answers to questions, they have had the drive and passion to already have read every book on the subject. Someone just asking questions for instructions as a way of bypassing the need for understanding of the case at hand, might get this item fixed or do a decent recording but they would not have the drive to make a difference or make a career out of it.

[Jazz P Bass]

That old 'this is your mind on drugs' line could be rephrased.
'This is your mind on alzheimers' (or whichever dementia you want to fill in).
The same frying egg.
It is a shame as we ARE our mind.

[J M Fahey]

FWIW I lost my Mother 2 years ago, she was 84, and *incredibly* active on all grounds, both physical and mental.

She used to travel twice a year alone, Buenos Aires to L.A. and back, switching planes in Atlanta or Chicago, always got *very* pissed off when some flight attendant suggested a wheel chair "for safety" between planes .

Everyday she walked some 20 to 30 blocks along posh clothes shops streets (Buenos Aires is an European style *very* walkable City, think downtown N.Y. or ...... St Petersburg ) , having fun arguing Fashion or prices with sales people (who knew and loved her), plus she was an active member of a "Charity Ladies Association" so she visited slums, children Hospitals, etc. every week.

Plus the almost daily visits of my children, who loved her.

The point is that she felt important, needed and loved, not much time to feel depressed or "get rusty".

Sorry for the long rant, but I guess it's somewhat to the point

[Chuck H]

Juan, same story with my grandmother. Always applied to the situation at hand and always useful to those around her. Even when she had to invent a purpose. Which always turned out to be appreciated. As in "Oh I'll make dinner. I want to try a new recipe." She died at ninety four with all her marbles. And happy for the opportunity to rest. She was riddled with RMD's and arthritis. From the time she was about ninety she use to say "I don't understand why the good lord don't take me." (She was born and lived in a rural Oklahoma township). And yet I heard her say many life adages like "Idle hands do the devils work." And of course "Boredom is for lazy minds."

On a less positive note, I have seen someone who wasn't lazy of mind or spirit develop dementia. He was a young man with AID's. And if I live to be as old as my grandmother I'll never forget the look on his face when he realized he could no longer trust his own mind. I'd rather stab my eyes out than see it again. He was my good friend and it was a long time ago. I'm actually out of gay friends now. They drop like flies you know.

[J M Fahey]

Ouch!!

The few gay people I know (and respect) seem to be holding well, but my *Musician* friends drop like flies.

Youngest ones (30 and below) are more aware of risks and take care of themselves, (sort of ), but those who *would* have been 40/45 today simply disappeared in droves, just that bad.

There was a widespread idea that "drugs are rebellion", "rules of any kind are oppression" and some "macho man"/"couldn't care less" attitude which made them share needles.

Nobody wanted to be called a sissy by refusing.

None I know lived long enough to get dementia, they dropped first from some infectious disease; most common TB but also Pneumonia, Septicemia (blood infection) and my children's babysitter, out of ... Psittacosis ... (yes, the parrot disease )

I *think* early AIDS was much stronger and now it's mellowing some, but of course that does not mean it should be treated lightly.

[DrGonz78]

When I think of how old I want to be when I retire, all that comes to mind is the day I die.

My grandfather just passed away last Oct. and he had been suffering from dementia for 15 years. He forgot who we were years ago and his last 3 years were spent in a living assisted home. My other grandfather had passed away a couple of years earlier and his memory was very strong, his body was not. It is strange how one of my grandpas had all his higher faculties but his body was just falling apart. The other one his body was like the Energizer Bunny, but his mind was like swiss cheese. Both of them were very smart men. One worked for Garrett (later Allied Signal) in developing guns on the Apache helicopter and parts of the Phalanx system(found on Naval ships). The other worked for General Dynamics and in the 60's he helped develop radio communication technology for future space travels, he was a ham.

To me losing your memory is just as bad as any type of pain the body can feel. When my grandpa finally passed on after 15 years of losing his mind, there was a sense of relief. It was to me as if I just knew he would not have wanted for us to keep him alive in that state of being. He would have been pissed off that he lived that long with out his mind, he was an impatient type. It really was as though he had departed this world years ago and there was just a person hiding inside himself.

[Chuck H]

It's something that plagues people who live like we do. By that I mean to say that I'm a reasonable, but artistic man. So my friends and acquaintances have often been fringe types that lacked my reasonable character. As a result I've lost many friends and friendly acquaintances that were very strong artists. Too fast to live, too young to die (to quote Glen Fry). I think you may have had some similar experiences. I'm actually drinking a bit too much tonight to quiet the voices in my head because I just got some more bad news. And on that thought I hope you have been able to find some measure of peace in the grand scheme.

[J M Fahey]

Ouch!!
Can feel your pain.

[Chuck H]

Sorry for hijacking the thread with gloom. It's the next morning. Drunkards forget that they aren't that interesting. And thank you Juan for being graceful.

To get back on topic I did some small research. It would seem that Alzheimer's is NOT caused by any lack of mental exercise. So I have to wonder if we aren't dealing with more than one form of dementia here. Cases where someone getting older becomes mentally lazy and loses "it" are commonly known. And cases where someone is getting older but remains mentally active and never loses "it" are too. Maybe the affliction itself precludes this perception. Either way I plan to stay mentally active for as long as possible.

Here's one of the more concise links I found on Alzheimer's:
Alzheimer's Disease Fact Sheet | National Institute on Aging

[km6xz]

Chuck, I don't think anyone mentioned a cause in this thread but a number of studies have associated delayed symptoms or slower progress of these common maladies impacting so many families, to active mental activity.

[Leo_Gnardo]

To get back on topic I did some small research. It would seem that Alzheimer's is NOT caused by any lack of mental exercise. So I have to wonder if we aren't dealing with more than one form of dementia here. Cases where someone getting older becomes mentally lazy and loses "it" are commonly known. And cases where someone is getting older but remains mentally active and never loses "it" are too. Maybe the affliction itself precludes this perception. Either way I plan to stay mentally active for as long as possible.

Good plan! And let's not forget that aluminum has been mentioned as a causative element in "old-timers" disease. You can choose to believe that or not, but I discarded my aluminum cookware 20 years ago and by coincidence so did my cousin, who is a nurse and a very smart observer of the scene. (OK maybe we can run around with our aluminum foil hats now but that doesn't get it into our systems.)

Anyway I'm helping my 93 year old neighbor across the street, and he's staying pretty sharp, doing crossword & soduku every day although he can barely hear & his vision's not far behind. Too bad he doesn't have a treasure trove of old vacuum tubes but hey what the heck, he's a good guy and appreciates the help (not with $ though, he's a tightwad just like me.) His 92 y/o wife, on the other hand, has been in hospital and rehab for much of the past year, and although being treated for diabetes, cannot stay away from candy, cake, ice cream & soda unless she's shut behind those rehab doors. And she is "losing it" sweetheart though she is. No intellectual capacity to understand the harm sugar's doing her, and she "doesn't want to know." Oh well, ya do what ya can do. Laziness doesn't explain it all. Sometimes people can get worn out like an old rubber band, then it pops and that's the end, friend.

[Chuck H]

No, a specific cause hasn't been officially placed on why people get chronic dementia. But it seems like every time a senior suffers from obvious dementia Alzheimer's is the default assumption. That's why I mentioned that there could be other causes that no one is paying much attention to. Anyone has seen older people just sitting in front of the TV ten hours a day while their brains to turn into mashed potatoes while active seniors with a diversified life seem more aware. I'm in your camp regarding mental exercise and activity as preventative care for dementia. I just think we're likely dealing with more than one source of dementia and having a lazy mind may not always be the cause.

[big_teee]

Getting beat on the head repeatedly can't help.
Look at old boxers, and Football Players.
Trauma.
Other Causes, just guessing here, Smoking, Drugs, Alcohol, Lead Fumes, Paint fumes, etc.
T