Dementia Proof Yourself: the Dementia Clock and the Ego

The Unconscious, Dementia and What to do!

As dementia progresses, the boundaries between the conscious mind and the subconscious begin to dissolve. A Dementia Clock of sorts has started to tick! Without a strong ego-mind barrier, cognitive symptoms of dementia escalate. The subconscious begins to spew its contents into waking reality - raw, disorganised, and unfiltered. What we witness as paranoia, mood swings, aggression, memory loss, or impaired judgment is, in truth, the subconscious taking the reins from the conscious mind.

Caring for a Loved One with Dementia

I’m currently navigating the emotional and mental terrain of caring for a loved one diagnosed with dementia. It’s been deeply challenging - at times heartbreaking - but it’s also been a journey of unexpected insight. This illness, which affects millions globally, has taught me something profound about the human psyche.

We are approaching what many experts call a dementia tsunami, especially as the Baby Boomer generation ages. The average age of onset used to be 85, and due to longer life expectancy, women are up to three times more likely to develop dementia than men. However, the average onset age is getting younger, with people in their 60s now drowning in this powerful wave.

Genetics also play a role, but we are not powerless - preventative action is possible. The rise in alcohol and drug-related dementia diagnoses among people in their 40s is alarming. Our choices today shape our cognitive health tomorrow.

The Subconscious Unleashed

One morning, I visited my relative and was struck by a surreal moment. She spoke enthusiastically about "pushing a button in her head" to receive anything she desired. To her, this wasn’t a metaphor. She believed it was real. What I realised later was that she was describing a dream - but she wasn’t aware it had been a dream. She was living it, while awake.

It was then that I understood: the ego-mind barrier had become porous, full of holes. Her subconscious was leaking into waking reality, without filter or structure. This observation sent me deep into research. I viewed online scans and autopsy images of individuals who had passed with dementia. The findings were stark - actual physical holes, atrophy and breakdowns in critical brain architecture.

Freud, the Ego and the Dementia Clock

The ego-mind barrier, as introduced by Freud, forms early in childhood -around 18 months. This is when a child first experiences limitation. In the womb, all needs are met instantly. After birth, the child encounters waiting, frustration, and pain. Over time, this leads to the development of the ego, a psychological buffer that helps separate reality from raw desire.

This barrier is essential. It helps keep the overwhelming landscape of the subconscious in check. But in dementia, as that barrier weakens, the subconscious bleeds through. It's often unfiltered and confusing for both the individual and their caregivers.

The Dementia Clock

This is where the concept of the Dementia Clock becomes critical. A Dementia Clock is far more than a simple time-telling device. It’s a structured tool designed to orient individuals with dementia in both time and space. By reinforcing the rhythms of day and night and offering contextual cues, such as the current time, date or whether it's morning or evening - a Dementia Clock helps sustain a fragile connection between the external world and the person’s inner experience.

It’s almost as if the individual is relearning the concept of time - much like a small child. But in a Benjamin Button kind of way, they’re moving backward, gradually regressing into a childlike state as dementia progresses.

Dementia Clocks have Multiple Meanings

The idea of the Dementia Clock holds a powerful double meaning. On one hand, it refers to the physical clock designed to help orient people with dementia - offering cues like the time, date and whether it’s morning or evening. But on a deeper level, the Dementia Clock is also ticking within us. Some of us are prewired, whether through genetics or life experience, to enter a certain window of vulnerability. A dementia clock can be a kind of internal countdown toward cognitive decline.

But the beauty of this awareness is that it gives us choice. We can interrupt the ticking. We can push back. Studying relentlessly, exercising regularly, learning music, socialising, staying curious - these are not just hobbies. They are cognitive medicine. Neuroplasticity tells us the brain can rewire itself, even in later life. So, whether your Dementia Clock is already showing signs or not, there’s still time to act. The clock doesn’t just measure decline, it can also mark the start of your personal prevention journey.

Practical Steps on How to Dementia Proof Yourself

1. To dementia proof yourself, it helps to do things that strengthen the ego-mind barrier... things like thinking. Start playing games, do maths in your head and be more creative. Be proactive about avoiding dementia by brain training yourself. Keep those brain holes at bay by exercising your brain as you would exercise your muscles.
2. Dementia involves unbridled spewing of the unconscious so practise allowing subconscious contents to be relieved in an appropriate manner. Empty and transform all those hidden things down in your subconscious so they don’t come back later to bite you. Do not judge what comes out of your deepest brain recesses but write everything down that you experience. Do a daily practice by journalling everything that you feel regardless of whether it seems silly or unimportant, overwhelming or even shocking. You are venting whatever is going on down deep within you. You will bring light to darkness as you allow these forces a voice to express their own reality. They may be completely incorrect, inappropriate, ugly or even beautiful and surprising. Whatever is down inside of you, do not judge it but instead allow it to express itself freely and completely in a healthy way.

Now You're Going Up in the World!

Think of yourself as the Chairman of the Board of a very large and successful company. Now if you are to make a decision, you wouldn’t do that unilaterally. A wise move would be to seek advice and consult with people at various levels of your company so you can work out with the other company directors how you can best implement your new idea. After a thorough consultation period, then you would develop a research strategy and make a plan before taking action.

This type of idea is useful when thinking about what goes on in your subconscious. You are the Chairperson of your life and when making decisions, it is wise to consult with all your energy, not only what goes on in your mind. Your immediate awareness is not all that you are. You are a complicated and huge energetic universe with some energies in direct conflict with what your ego located in your mind wants. Deal with all your energies so you can take better control of your life by releasing the pressure created by your subconscious.

There are many preventative things you can do now:

• Living a healthy lifestyle by creating good blood flow through movement such as daily walks, yoga and/or other exercise. Get a dog to encourage you;
• Clean up free radicals in your blood stream by eating good whole foods and limiting processed foods;
• Create better peripheral blood flow by taking good supplements such as gingko biloba. There are heaps of supplements available, so do some research to find out what bests suits you;
• Have a good weekly massage to improve blood flow and relaxation;
• Meditate the stresses away and use your imagination. You can imagine a waterfall washing all the stresses and blockages away. Imagine the blood flowing around your body and to all parts of your brain.
• Ask your angels, spirit guides or whatever higher spiritual authority you believe in to help you improve your health. One good question to ask is “what single thing can I do to improve my well being?”

Dementia-Proofing Your Mind

The idea of dementia-proofing yourself begins with awareness. Strengthening your ego-mind boundary isn’t about being egotistical. It’s about building inner structure, resilience and self-awareness. Practices like meditation, structured daily routines, emotional regulation and lifelong learning all help reinforce this barrier.

Using tools like the Dementia Clock - even before symptoms arise—may help in creating orientation habits that support brain health. Think of it as a cognitive anchor. For those already affected by dementia, a Dementia Clock  can be a lifeline. For the rest of us, it may be a form of subtle prevention.

Final Thoughts

Dementia is a complex, multifaceted condition. While its progression can feel devastating, there is wisdom to be gained. By understanding the role of the ego, the function of the subconscious and the support provided by tools like the Dementia Clock, we can begin to shift from fear toward empowerment. Whether you’re a caregiver, a loved one or someone simply looking to protect your mind, remember - knowledge is power and awareness is the first step to healing.

Do the inner work now and save yourself a whole lot of problems further down the track of your life. Remember, you do have some control over what happens to you as you are the architect of your own life. Your health and well being are of prime importance so be proactive and take preventative steps before choices now influence your future. Be the really awesome and immortal being that you truly are... BeYOUtiful You!

If you're a bit of a Sigmund Freud fan, here's an article about dream interpretation.