I'm interested in what Rich is saying. There are many things that we can do, all based on the idea of stimulating the brain and forging new connections. For instance, as in neurobics, using the senses more fully to make new connections. Or when meeting someone associating something with their name and face in order to remember. If I were an AD sufferer, I would be pretty depressed.
Sleep is an escape.
I find I am waking in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep. As we age we require a bit less sleep, but often what happens is that older adults who have time on their hands, nap during the day, so if you add up all their hours of sleep its not that different from adults in general. I wish I could give you advice, but I don't know how I do it. I find writing checks for parents ultra depressing. Especially when you have to also take care of your own bills too, it can be a bit much in fact speaking of forgetting, this was the first month I had forgotten to pay my mother's rent on time, it was due on the first, but I did give it to them today.