Ron Robert walked across the stage at King鱿鱼视频app University College In London, Ont., last month to collect a three-year Bachelor鱿鱼视频app degree in political science. Now, at the age of 85, he鱿鱼视频app taking a few more courses in the hope of embarking on a Master鱿鱼视频app degree.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to go 鈥� I hope, if my head is still working 鈥� for my Master鱿鱼视频app. It is working, so I鈥檓 not going to stop,鈥� Robert told The Catholic Register.
King鱿鱼视频app Political Science professor Andrea Lawlor has no doubt Robert鱿鱼视频app head works. She taught him through four different courses in Canadian politics and law 鈥� four of the 35 courses Robert completed for his degree.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know Ron had Alzheimer鱿鱼视频app for the first few weeks I taught him. It wasn鈥檛 until he mentioned it in class 鈥� quite casually 鈥� that I found out,鈥� Lawlor said in an email.
There were small accommodations for Robert 鈥� primarily oral exams rather than the traditional two hours of writing longhand answers in a hushed lecture hall. But Lawlor and other professors at King鱿鱼视频app were more often making allowances for Robert鱿鱼视频app deteriorating eyesight (macular degeneration) than for his memory troubles. Robert recorded lectures so he could listen to them again. Professors assigned him podcasts and documentary films, knowing that hours of reading would be a problem.
Robert played to his strengths on campus. As a former broadcast journalist who had covered the Saskatchewan and Alberta legislatures, rising to cover Parliament in Ottawa for Selkirk News, Robert had the gift of the gab. He was a full and valued participant in classroom discussions. As a former aide to Pierre Trudeau holding down the Western desk in the Prime Minister鱿鱼视频app Office, he possessed a wealth of memories of real-life politics 鈥� events and debates that are now distant history for his fellow students.
Long-term memory is one of Robert鱿鱼视频app strengths.
鈥淢y long-term memory improved, but I lost my short-term memory,鈥� Robert explained. 鈥淚 remembered things from when I was five years old, which I couldn鈥檛 have remembered before I got Alzheimer鱿鱼视频app. So figure that one out. It鱿鱼视频app weird.鈥�
Getting a diagnosis of Alzheimer鱿鱼视频app in 2015 wasn鈥檛 easy.
鈥淭hey took my driver鱿鱼视频app licence right that day, of course,鈥� he recalled. 鈥淚 miss that more than anything. That rocked me.鈥�
He had also seen his two older brothers quickly succumb to the disease. He watched as his sisters-in-law took doting and exhausting care of his brothers.
He also looked into the world of puzzles and memory exercises often recommended to people trying to stave off dementia.
鈥淭here鱿鱼视频app nothing empirical about them though, unfortunately,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o, I thought, 鈥榊ou go to university鈥� 鈥� which I had always wanted to do. You know, you鈥檙e tested on a regular basis. To me that made sense. It鱿鱼视频app no good just trying to memorize stuff if you don鈥檛 have an objective to memorizing.鈥�
Robert had never gone beyond Grade 9. He began his working life as a radio reporter at the age of 17. As he matured in his careers in journalism and politics he ached to get the education he didn鈥檛 have in his youth.
In class Robert was an asset as a witness to history, generous with his knowledge.
鈥淎s a professor, I loved the addition of his experiences working in politics and journalism,鈥� said Lawlor. 鈥淭hey really added that human feel to the material鈥�
When premiers and prime ministers, the Meech Lake Accord and the 1982 adoption of Canada鱿鱼视频app Constitution popped up in class, Robert could contribute insights only available to an eyewitness.
Students young enough to be his grandchildren appreciated the gift of Robert鱿鱼视频app long-term memories.
鈥淩on connected with the students. There was mutual appreciation,鈥� said Lawlor.
His advice to his own generation facing memory loss is to go beyond 鈥減uzzles and stuff鈥� and stay active and engaged with people.
鈥淣ot just university. If you鈥檝e got a passion about something 鈥� say you really wanted to learn piano 鈥� go take that. Take structured lessons and ensure that you鈥檙e tested periodically.鈥�