One thing that's certain: We are all going to experience decline of some kind, unless we die young and suddenly :) It is humbling to consider our loss and then to see it in others as the years pass. I'm trying to regard these changes as part of my life story, my experience. It's almost like we are passengers. We watch the changes as they occur.

I think it's very good for you to be able to catalogue so precisely what's happening to you now. It's helpful to you to understand and to cope. You have clear perception of your difficulty. That's the first step in handling any challenge. And then, as you catalogue your experience and share it, we have further understanding of what's happening to us.

As you can see from the comments, decline, or loss--of any kind--is a common, human experience. We all sit in our little private universes and wonder about this or that. We wonder how we will cope. We wonder what is to come. You help us.

As you describe your challenge, I relate it to my own, to my husband's, to my brothers' and sisters' challenges. Thank you for being so insightful and honest. You can tell by the comments here that you give us all a moment to reflect.

Keep on fighting. Let us know when you have completed the requirements for the degree. That moment will give us all something to celebrate.