So we’re basically all fucked, compared to what we’ve seen so far. I definitely ate more sugar as a young child than my grandmother, born just before WWI. My parents might have had more than me (though almost certainly not), but lots of places still had food rations for much of the baby boomers’ early childhood.

[–] exasperation@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I don't know why you'd conclude that we're going to be worse off than older generations. Dementia is multifaceted, and associated with a lot of variables, including some that have decreased over time.

Younger generations are far less likely to smoke, less likely to be exposed to concussive or sub concussive head trauma, and less likely to be exposed to loud noises that cause hearing loss. The standard of care for cardiovascular health is different, too, and faster interventions with statins and GLP-1s, greater availability and adherence to vaccine schedules (especially the shingles vaccine), all may result in much better old age health.

Will that make up for greater exposure to other factors that make us less healthy? I'd actually think so.

[–] cosmos8188@leminal.space 1 points 6 hours ago

Mental conditions are never as straight faced as they may seem. Multi variableness is a factor that shouldnt be dismissed.

[–] Dozzi92@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

Yeah, my grandmother was born in Italy in the 30s and probably never had processed sugar in her life. She got dementia. She also lived with dementia for 15 years, severe for the last 10, which is crazy. Fortunately, she never seemed, while I was around, scared or anything, just very quiet, like she was lost in her own thoughts, which I guess she was.