Prolonged phenobarbital usage and connection with dementia?

@santosha
No apology necessary, I knew what you meant about being 52. But it made me chuckle although when I thought about my age the chuckle quickly ended. Nothing we can do about that I'm afraid. I first felt old when a lady at the gym said to me “we don't like our elderly client's to use this machine.” Elderly indeed!! I was around 60.
The speech pathologist didn't help me remembering everyday tasks like taking my pills, appointments, errands or what I needed at the store etc. I do think it helped a little with my concentration which improves memory. I remembered more of what the doctors said during my appointments. My guess is if I continued on a regular basis maybe it would have helped more. Same for my balance.
Jake

Hi Jake (@jakedduck1),
What a relief you did understand what I was trying to express.
Thank you for this additional sharing of experience. Sorry to hear that this treatment was not of much help.
Regarding concentration, just sharing that practice of traditional hatha yoga has helped me much in this respect. When you are in a posture (asana), you have to stay as an observer of yourself, paying attention to what you are doing and feeling. In the beginning, I observed how easily my mind would wander.
Have a nice evening!
Santosha

Hi
I was on phenabarb when I was a child and had lots of headaches as well. Then the epilepsy came back to haunt me when my mother died - they tell me it was the shock I was 23 at the tme
After being on different meds with horrible side affects I was put on Keppra when I was 55 and feel great! I feel a lot calmer these days but I think meditation has helped a lot