Science Belongs to You

Science is the methodical search for knowledge, and the knowledge thereby gained.

It is not a religion. It does not require years of study to practice. It is yours anytime you choose to embrace it.

The primary qualities needed to practice it successfully are diligence, and attention to detail.

You do not have to perform randomized, double-blind, controlled experiments for it to be of use to you. The first such experiment was done in the 1940s. Many medical discoveries were made without their use, including the first vaccines, antibiotics, anaesthesia, and antiseptics.

The approval of the medical or pharmaceutical establishments is not the goal. The primary concern in your case is whether you can slow, halt, or reverse your own decline. If you try numerous items concurrently and are successful, it can give you some more productive and enjoyable years of life.

You do not need to go to school to study and be approved of by others in order to study your own condition in a scientific manner. Benjamin Franklin was ten years old when he had his last year of formal schooling.

Keep faithful records of what you eat, how much you exercise, time spent meditating, time spent interacting with other people, your weight, how well you sleep, and any medicines and supplements that you take. Periodically test your short term memory, your episodic memory (things that you've done lately, like what you had for lunch yesterday), your ability to plan something and execute the plan, and your ability to recall lists of items (like states and their capitals, phone numbers of friends, or the names of streets between one place and another). Test yourself in any other way that you like. Write down the results. Push your memory by memorizing new things, like songs or poems. Write down your success.

Over a period of months you can examine your notes and see if you're making progress, holding steady, or falling behind. If you're falling behind, change something and keep track of it. Repeat as necessary.

Read about your condition, especially new studies; or watch videos, or listen to audiobooks. Take notes, and periodically review those notes.

If you have trouble keeping to a system, try to form a support group of people in your situation, and give each other encouragement. Remember: you're fighting for your life, and the things you learn could also help someone else fight for theirs.