The author's mother, Freddi, died last year at nearly 94 of a respiratory tract infection and dementia. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s 20 years before, but never knew. She lived with it for 20 years and was surrounded by health professionals, including her own mother's doctors, nurses, hearing specialists, eye consultants, and care home staff. The author believes that her decision to not tell her mother about her diagnosis saved her from suffering the stress of being informed. She also credits her mother's memory problems with avoiding hospital visits and medications. The article suggests that the focus on early dementia diagnosis should be accompanied by a warning that knowledge is not always beneficial in the absence of a cure.