My mother feared Alzheimers above all.
When I would go to visit, she would make recitations. She would recite the left handed cousins. ( I am left handed and to her dying day she would apologize for me being left handed). There was a family we knew with 10 kids. She would recite them in order. She would casually introduce the subject of marriage and then recite which of my highschool classmates ( of 40 years ago) married which. An on and on, birth days, anniversaries etc.
Her mind remained pretty sharp till the end
My mom could recall vivid details of a childhood family trip but couldn’t remember walking out to check the mailbox 5 times in 30 minutes.
I remember visiting her a year or so before the end. I was with her for a couple hours and left for no more than 15 minutes to run a quick errand. Upon return, I could tell she was tell she was worried about something by her mannerisms. I asked her if there was something wrong and she said: “I don’t know who your are and you should leave.”
Alzheimers is a terrible disease and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. I absolutely love Glen Campbell’s song, I won’t miss you, because it is the way it is.
I fear it as well, since my grandfather had it. I am 62 and try to keep my mind working well. My body, not so much...............