If you could find out now when and how you were going to die, would you want to know?

I went to my 40th high school reunion in June and saw a good friend who recognized me instantly. By the end of the evening, she had a confused affect and needed help walking out to her friend’s car to go home. Later, a mutual friend told me she had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. I haven’t stopped thinking about her and how cruel this disease will be and already is for her. Utterly heartbreaking.

To answer your question, I hope I go out laughing or dancing after a long life and without being a burden to anyone else.

I don't know. Such knowledge is a gamble. You might luck out, you might not, you might be able to come to a sense of peace with it, it might terrorize you until it finally happens, and once you know you know.

My meditation teacher (George Haas) once described a practice where you spent all day envisioning every possible way you might die, as fully as possible. Cancer, car accident, stabbing, Alzheimer's. And on and on and on. He said it became quite frightening. I'll stick to breath counting for now, but I can see the sense of it.

I'd only want to know if dementia was involved.

I would roll the dice and say yes, I'd want to know, especially if something as insidious as dementia or ALS was on the horizon.

I desperately don’t want to know. I would suspend my life while waiting to die.

If it were a horrific death, life would suck waiting for it.

It is definitely the top mystery of our life. Some things are better left unknown.

If it was from a drug overdose I'd want to know why and how that could happen. I might come to the conclusion I would be facing something like dementia and took matters in my own hands.

You question is general, Op, but the. You refer specifically to Alzheimer. Though it surely is a temptation, knowing when you will die would certainly color all the remaining time, whatever that would be. You would be stuck into counting, life would be centered on death instead.

Being ill and with a firm diagnosis, follows the abpve but then you are confronted with the inevitable. Still Alice was a dire, verging on exploitation movie, but unfortunately a reality for some people. I would try to get out sooner rather than later,but who knows.

Lets bitch instead.

There are some logical problems with this concept if you think about it, but answering just for "fun", I would say no.

This is sort of a side bar, but in some other cultures, including Japanese culture, doctors never tell their patients they have a terminal illness, nor do they give them a projected lifespan. I do have to say, that when I have met people who told me their doctor gave them 6 months to live, they generally live almost exactly 6 months, so there is the danger of self-fulfilling prophecy at work.

On the other hand, I read that someone diagnosed with a terminal illness immediately changed his life in many positive ways - better diet, more sleep, regular exercise, etc. His rationale was that although he knew he couldn't cure his illness, he wanted to be the healthiest person ever living with that disease.

It is also fascinating to me how much willpower is involved in staying alive. I have known so many people who stayed alive against all odds to make the wedding of a child, or until a long-awaited visit from a loved-one finally took place.. I often think that in the case of a terminal illness, it's the constancy of pain and the knowledge that there is no option for cure or relief that wears down that drive to stay alive.

My mom has Alzheimer's. Stage seven, she's now in memory care. My dad told me last week he signed her up for hospice. Her decline went fast after a series of falls and TBIs. But back when she was at stage 3 or 4, I remember having a relatively open conversation with her about it, and she was relatively unworried about it, maybe "generally unconcerned about a far off event" is a way to put it. (...so she didn't do a lot of the things which could have slowed down the disease's progress, like stop drinking). I haven't investigated this but I've wondered if this lack of concern is a hallmark of the disease itself. Or if it was just the way my mom, who spent decades in an emotionally abusive relationship with my narcissistic dad, consciously or unconsciously, dealt with it.

I live every day as if it were my last, so knowing for sure would be superfluous.

Ah, but you can know when and how you're going to die. It's simple as a DIY -- just buy a handgun.

I personally would love to know the day, so I can get in as much fun as possible before then. Do I want to know how? Not so much.

r11, how many stages are there?

R14 - 7 stages:

Stage 1: No impairment

At this stage, the individual will not experience memory problems. None are visible to a health care professional.

Stage 2: Very mild cognitive decline

The individual may begin to have memory lapses. Forgetting people’s names and or where they left their keys will happen more frequently.

Stage 3: Mild cognitive decline

Noticeable changes occur at this stage. The individual may experience problems in memory and concentration. (Some examples include: Inability to recall what they just read , Having trouble planning or organizing, Experiencing challenges in social settings or at work)

Stage 4: Moderate cognitive decline

Forgetfulness of recent events Change in behavior, feeling moody or withdrawn, Inability to manage finances and or pay bills, Reduced memory of personal history

Stage 5: Moderately severe cognitive decline:

Unable to recall their address or phone number, Confused about where they are, such as the time and place, Unable to make decisions. They can still remember important details about themselves and their family and will not need assistance with eating or using the restroom.

Stage 6: Severe cognitive decline

At stage 6, an individual’s memory will continue to worsen. Changes in personality and behavior will also take place. Individuals can’t recall their children, spouse or caregiver’s name. They may also begin to wander, have difficulty sleeping and might experience hallucinations.

Stage 7: Very severe cognitive decline

At the final stage of the disease, the individual will experience a loss of motor skills. They will lose the ability to speak. The brain and body lose their connection. Loved ones and caregivers will need to help the individual with walking, eating and using the restroom.

thanks r15