Post #1725434

2026-04-26 11:07 UTC

In our family we are very familiar with dementia and senility. This is not it. He has always been repetitive (I suspect rather autism or OCD). For as long as I can remember he has always retold the same story in the exact same words to me, knowing full and well that he has told me it 12 times or more before. His mother was exactly the same. But it has gotten worse. Maybe it is because I have spent more time with him recently so he gets more opportunities to tell the same story. In this family we are on the outlook for dementia etc though. But he is aware of his repetition. It is compulsive rather than forgetful. It is just that he tells his conspiracy theories more often, explaining them in the exact same details he did before. it is more annoying than worrisome.

Replies (2)

@manxu@piefed.social 2026-04-26 12:15

For what it’s worth, I had the same instant reaction as @faythofdragons@slrpnk.net. In particular, (a) if he’s nearing retirement, then he’s way too young for the type of behavior, and (b) the belligerence and anger reaction when contradicted match what I’ve seen with family that had dementia, and it sounds like that’s new. As for the question at large, I can’t confirm your experience. Where I live, older people behave just like younger people when it comes to stating opinions or telling stories. They are more stuck in their ways, no doubt, but I guess it’s harder to change the way you do things if you’ve done it successfully one way for 40 years.

Open ##1725863
@faythofdragons@slrpnk.net 2026-04-26 16:22

That's good then! I don't know if he has any hobbies besides getting angry at the news, but it'd help and give you two something to talk about that isn't upsetting. I know you mentioned in another comment that he sees frivolity as a waste of potential, but maybe you could emphasize that he's worked hard his whole life, and fun in retirement is supposed to be the reward for that? What does he do for work? Maybe there's a hobby that hits his dopamine the same way?

Open ##1988177