I have dementia genes coming at me from both sides (mother diagnosed at 79 but it was obvious before that, father diagnosed at 85 but it was SOOOO obvious before that) plus a bad TBI in my youth (those "signs of cognitive decline you may see as you age"— had those in my 20s after the accident). Almost all the things to do to hold off dementia I've been doing the last 24 years to help with my diabetes. (Oh yeah, I'm a T2 diabetic.) So at age 62 I retired early because I was having trouble at work, cognitively. Four good years later I am eating better, I am exercising harder, I am under much less stress, and I am continuing to decline. Ah, well, it was worth a try, eh? And maybe the next four years will be good also, by which time my wife and I will be in a retirement community with a memory care unit.

And I've had four years already in retirement that I've enjoyed with my wife. Something I appreciate. 😊