At what age were your parents when you started to notice them really slowing down?

When my dad's 5K time slipped by a minute, I said to myself, "he's really slowing down"

Come on dude, you can't really think the elections aren't rigged for Democrats and that people are voting in this Leftists that should be in nursing homes. Trump/Putin/etc are clearly lucid and functional, despite, only the corrupt political parties keep corrupt old sock puppet politicos in place.

The answer for my dad was pretty young relatively speaking, but then he was a lifelong smoker (having started when he was 14) and was exposed to a lot of chemicals so he had a lot of lung damage. I was a late in life child so I never experienced the active dad my much older siblings did. My dad had a hard time walking up more than a few steps when he was in his late 50s.

My mom was later although she smoked for a long time she quit. I would say about 65 was when it was rough on her.

I, on the other hand, am still quite active but my kids would probably say 5 years ago was when they really noticed it. I was mid 50s.

The minute the parents start doing strange stuff, make sure you know how to manage their finances. Get all of their passwords.

Make sure they have a trust and will. Have that talk with them. It is easier to have dead parents and deal with their bank accounts than it is when they are alive and incapable of managing them.

My mother managed all of the finances, my dad knew nothing. Mom got dementia but since dad was alive but practically deaf, it made getting access to their accounts difficult if not impossible until i pretended to be my 90+ year old dad.

their > "there"

Everyone slows down when they get older and the type and rate of slowing depends on the individual. But slowing down and getting 'dingier' is normal and unavoidable as people age.

Unless you are less than 18-25 years old (the human age when it is believed that more cells die than are being replaced by new cells) you too and your body are aging.

Both of my parents died before they were 70. I first started noticing slight signs of them slowing down when they were in their late 40s. (moving a little slower, more sedentary, gaining a little weight, less energetic). Those signs of aging increased and new consequences of aging appeared until they died.

On a running related note, I first thought my dad was slowing down before I was 10 and he was 40 when I was finishing closer to and sometimes beating him in impromptu friendly short 'races'. I had no other objective measurement or frame of reference to determine if I was getting faster or he was slowing down. I thought it was a little of both.

The fact that you do not see them regularly magnifies any changes that you notice.

Be happy and grateful that both your parents are alive and you can spend time with/enjoy your parents.

You can be concerned about your parents aging, but you need to understand and accept that aging and slowing down is natural and normal.

Know and accept that Father Time is undefeated.

On the contrary, I am really amazed at how much smarter my dad has gotten over the last 7 years.

Great thread. I just turned 57, and am the same as ever, mentally and mostly physically—but I know people my age who are getting old.

The contrast between them and those sharp 90-yr-old’s I know is incredible. I do think that smoking and drinking significantly can really affect a person’s trajectory.

My dad smoked until around 53, when he had an episode of angina, which scared him straight. He quit on the spot, and never touched tobacco from that point on. Even though he filled the void with alcohol and too much food, I think quitting added 20-25 yrs to his life.

Just finished a huge meal, after an equally huge cycling workout. I’m going to keep this shlt going as long as possible, I feel great!💪

But, is it true that pancreas cells can die and not be replaced?

Life is such a crapshoot. My dad lived to 83 and never took care of himself, meanwhile an athletic friend of my wife’s died of cancer at age 33. Never can tell.

My dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at 62 and put on disability shortly thereafter. It was like he hit a wall.

At 66 he was placed in a nursing home bc we could no longer care for him and keep him safe at home. He died 7 months later.

my dad is almost 70 and I'd think he's in his 50's. Yea he is a bit deaf and repeats stuff here and there however he moves and has the energy of a younger person in there 30-40s. He runs and lifts weights daily and I think this has been key. My mom on the other hand is slow and tired and doesn't do anything physical after being a teacher and mom/ grandma for so many years. She seems worn down and tired. I defn want to be my dad.

I am age 73, wife is four years younger, we will be married 50 years this coming August. I have posted on this site since 2006. I attempt to do most things I did as a younger man, and the wife does the same. That has included painting the entire two story house the previous two years. My wife cooks from scratch around six days a week, Holiday meals are at our house. Our intention is to keep this routine well into the future.

A couple observations, Covid lockdowns ruined many lives, young and old. The number of fat people is quite shocking, that and the prevalence of drugs, recreational and therapeutic. The other, societal changes like lack of grooming, sloppy dress, and acceptance of truly bizarre behavior as the norm. A population that expects to be rewarded for no accomplishments. So, to me, although I would never act on personally, calling out such lack of self-respect, it is a thought.

The elderly that lose a step can be for many reasons, genetic or lifestyle. I do see people around my age who are engaged, and many who are not. I would say in numbers similar to the population at large. We had a male 70 year old house guest last week for five days. My wife and I worked hard before, during, and after his visit. He was not interested in current events, save Taylor Swift, drank too much alcohol daily. And we were somewhat surprised by his frequent marijuana use, not at our house, but at his home. Another couple in the neighborhood, several years older; the husband has Parkinsons, wife had a stroke six months ago, and they are strict Mormons. They do none of their own home maintenance, act and look years older than my wife and I.

My view is the progression of aging is 1/3 genetic, 1/3 roll of the dice, and 1/3 lifestyle. I try my best to keep myself together, and really don’t find it that hard to do.

My Dad 78 (he is 84 now). My mother starting showing signs around 65. She passed away of dementia last year. They were both runners. Took no medicines. My mother had chronic lower back pain for the last 15 years of her life which impacted her immensely. She was an ultra runner, hiked the Appalachian trail in her early 60s. She was a runner before it was “cool”. My dad ran too just not as much as my mom. They both were extremely active. Elder care is a phase of life which is so sad. I hope my end is quick.

Yes!! Why do we have senators over 70?!! insane.

Sounds like my Dad - athletic and active all of his life, worked 16 hour days at the farm until his early 60s. He had two small (undiaganosed) strokes around 80 that affected his balance, so he switched to pool workouts. Had another minor stroke at 83 while at the pool that had more impact on his mobility. This was when they diagnosed the two previous minor strokes. He was working very hard at physical therapy so that he could get back to his pool work outs, and then he had the the "Watchman" procedure to prevent additional strokes, but started having serious afib or premature ventricular contractions after the procedure. Despite several doctor and ER visits for the afib, the docs never took it seriously and he died several weeks later. I think the Watchman killed him. He had hearing loss but was still mentally sharp and healthy - I thought he had another 10 years.

My Mom is 83, very healthy lifestyle, active with gardening and house work, grows a lot of her own food, and still mentally sharp. She has not noticeably slowed down yet.

My father in law quit alcohol and lost weight in his 50s, adopted a vegetarian diet. At 80, he gets tired and needs to rest after a strenuous 5 hour back country hike in 90 F heat and full sun. He and his wife did a 3 month solo trip in northern Canada, portaging their canoe between lakes. Mentally very sharp.

My takeaway is that people can be very active and mentally sharp well into their 80s and even 90s if they stay active, have a healthy lifestyle and have a bit of luck with good genes and avoiding cancer and injuries. Some politicians need to quit in their 70s or 80s, but others, who are still active and healthy, have a lot of wisdom from their life experience.

Minimum wage income is typically the income of people that correct people's grammar!

1984 Colorado gov Dick Lamb made the statement that “we have a duty to die” this was in reference to artificial life extension for chronic life threatening illness. He foresaw the time of unsustainable medical expenses. Future generations life opportunities are bleak, these were wise words to remember.

As old or older and way faster than you Dan, like my moderate training pace is faster than your 5Ks. You should take down your silly caption.

Dad died mid-50s, but actually saw a decline over the last 4-5 years because of heart disease (this was decades before covid vaccines so don't even try ask).

Mom gradual decline starting in mid-60s, was pretty spry at 55-65, but was always a little loopy anyway, thought she was the best and smartest. Noticeable decline by early 70s, when forced into retirement. She had been generally outgoing became more and more of a hermit and was highly critical of anyone. By mid-late 70s had lost all filters and was very combative and became paranoid. Lived independently until early 80s and then sibs took over (that didn't end well), full blown dementia over the last 3-4 years.

In-laws. FIL had some physical problems due to a bad surgery outcome, maybe in his early 80s, but lived another decade and was aware and fairly with it until the last month or two (mid-90s). MIL was a battle axe, stubborn, independent, and tough, but slowed physically in her 80s, but mentally stayed with it pretty well until her final weeks--also living to mid 90s.

I’m a lot younger than 72, but I am a parent of two adult children. I’m absolutely paranoid and I stare off into space when I’m anxious about the future. I’m also stiff when I get out of a chair. Im positive I don’t have dementia ; )

The world is a totally totally different place than it was 30-40 years ago. When I was growing up, fathers worked and mothers stayed home. Children played outside. It was expected that most workers could afford to buy a single family home and retire with a pension. It’s frightening to see how fast America is declining. It’s not paranoia. It’s legitimate fear. Drugs, homelessness, housing crisis, loss of opportunities, wars, corruption, government spending, devaluation of the dollar, and unsustainable debt. All this is new to us (the last ten years is a tiny blip when you are 72) and it feels like a dystopia. Every parent and grand parent I know feels the same way, Democrat and Republican.

The early onset dementia gait is easily recognizable if he doesn’t move his arms when he walks and looks bewildered. He could also have arthritis in the knees or a bad back.

All parents age, their memory’s decline, and their bodies ache. But I would not jump to conclusions at this point. If he’s getting regular physicals, the doctor will know the signs.