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‘Many people die in … silence, particularly if they have advanced dementia or Alzheimer’s that robbed them of language years earlier. For those who do speak, it seems their vernacular is often banal. From a doctor I heard that people often say, “Oh fuck, oh fuck.”’

The majesty of final words.

Margaret Soltan, January 16, 2019 5:58PM
Posted in: the rest is silence

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3 Responses to “‘Many people die in … silence, particularly if they have advanced dementia or Alzheimer’s that robbed them of language years earlier. For those who do speak, it seems their vernacular is often banal. From a doctor I heard that people often say, “Oh fuck, oh fuck.”’”

  1. theprofessor Says:
    January 17th, 2019 at 9:56AM

    If you have dementia in your family lines, it is a scary prospect. It is very strong on my mom’s side, and often when I clutch on remembering some name, I wonder, “Is this the start?” My mom died too young for it to have manifested itself, but my grandmother was showing obvious signs in her early 60s and by age 70 was out of it completely. Her father had to be institutionalized–mind basically gone, but too strong physically for the family to handle.

  2. Margaret Soltan Says:
    January 17th, 2019 at 10:17AM

    tp: The prospect, in your 80s or 90s, is the sort of thing that makes one reread this essay:

    https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/10/why-i-hope-to-die-at-75/379329/

  3. theprofessor Says:
    January 17th, 2019 at 2:16PM

    I have read that article. My usual question is what Rahm-bro (or I) will actually do when and if the decline starts. On the other hand, my dad basically dropped dead with no real warning in his mid-60s….

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