Alzheimer Disease, Dementia, Cognitive Impairment
My Dementia Defense
by Don Nicholson
In a battle against time and memory loss, Don Nicholson discovers an unexpected weapon against dementia -- his own life story.
My Dementia Defense is more than a memoir; it is a multifaceted journey of resilience, a testament to the power of personal narrative in the face of the unthinkable.
Nicholson was a medical school professor, eye surgeon, and ambassador of ophthalmology to Latin America. At age 74, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer Disease, which had also affected his father.
Don began writing the book during the COVID-19 pandemic, six years after his Alzheimer diagnosis. As his memory deteriorated further, the theme became the story of a successful retired physician who enters the world of dementia. It may help you confront problems when Alzheimer Disease affects your spouse, siblings, parents, or yourself.
Meet the author
Born in Oklahoma, raised in Texas and Tennessee, Don Nicholson is a graduate of Stanford University and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He is a retired medical school professor at the Bascom PalmerEye Institute of the University of Miami School of Medicine who had been an ambassador of ophthalmology and educator to specialists in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Spain.
When Nicholson was 74 years old, the chief of geriatric memory at the University of Miami Medical School concluded after thorough testing that he had Alzheimer disease. The memory specialist is now Associate Director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) at the NIH.
“Dr. Nicholson, I’m afraid that the tests show that you do have Alzheimer disease. Here is a prescription for donepezil, which we believe slows progression. You should return to repeat the examinations in a year.”
That was the most devastating news a physician could give. In my mind, this news was worse than, “You will die in three months.” I’ve known I was going to die for decades, but not exactly when. After that news, I could relax. It was also worse than, “You have cancer.” Cancer has many treatments and some cures. After that news, I could start a new project.
This was worse. Much worse.
Huddling under the umbrella on our walk from the doctor’s office to the parking lot, Magda looked up at me.
“Doesn’t sound good, does it?”
I smiled and vowed, “I’m going to be the Michael J. Fox of Alzheimer disease.”
A physician’s perspective on living
20 years
with Alzheimer Disease
I am 84 years old. Ten years ago I was diagnosed with Alzheimer Disease. For the ten previous years, I had been one of the caregivers for my father, who also had Alzheimer Disease.
No matter how many more years I live, my number of years with Alzheimer disease will have been but a fraction of my total. This is one of the reasons I wrote My Dementia Defense.
I want family and friends to remember my lifetime of human connection, achievement, and sense of humor.
Not the demented old man who failed to recognize his own familiar, properly tagged suitcase at Delta Air baggage claim.
I invite you to meet me and listen to segments of the book on my YouTube video: https://youtu.be/-0zo8RfUEwk
You may write me at dhnpub@gmail.com