Cheeky solution to moronic comments
When I first read this post, as you were referring to your son's 'Performing Arts' lecturer, I assumed you meant that the lecturer was lecturing on performing, and therefore pointing out that if one is required to act as if they are a person suffering dementia then they should consider taking on bad posture as part of the role.
This completely makes sense to me as, as many have noted here dementia does quite often lead to bad posture (not the other way around as far as I am aware)...I don't know what I would do if it wasn't for pillows to prop Dad up when he is sitting...at least these days he doesn't lean so badly when walking like he used to!
As it turns out it sound like the lecturer was just lecturing in general on topics he is does not claim to be qualified in. Perhaps someone needs to lecture him about sensitivity, but I do have to say that there are so many out there, including doctors who have no sensitivity and no real knowledge of this disease (i have had doctors tell me that the disease is hereditary, is never hereditary, that you can't get it unless you are old, etc, etc) that perhaps it is best to just print out a set of cards with different phrases on them, ready to hand out to folks saying things like:
"Until you've lived it, you'll never really know what this disease is like."
"If you are interested in this disease I can tell you what I know about it. Ask me questions, I want people to know."
"Although it is good to be able to joke in the face of adversity, if you are not the one facing the adversity and you're joking about it, its going to go down like a lead balloon."
"Telling someone you know why their loved one is suffering or others like them are, when none of the doctors or scientists that have seen them and studied them can for sure, comes across as insulting, arrogant and insensitive and just a little bit stupid."
"Your trivialising of this disease is not appreciated, while I am losing a person I love to it in ways that are so horrible you can't even begin to imagine them."
"Sometimes keeping your mouth shut is the smartest thing to do. - Sincerely Alzheimer's sufferer's family member."
Can you imagine such a deck of cards. Keeping them in your purse or wallet and just pulling them out and handing them over to the offender at appropriate moments!!