by David Shenk
First published 2002
Alzheimer's disease transforms active, healthy people into living ghosts. David Shenk examines this condition that affects ten percent of people over 65 and half of those over 85. He traces the story back to 1906 when Alois Alzheimer first connected specific brain changes to behavioral symptoms by studying Auguste D's cerebral cortex. Shenk presents both the medical science and human impact of a disease that will quadruple in victims as the baby boom generation ages. The author argues that memory creates the foundation of our identity and meaning. He covers the stages of Alzheimer's progression, the experiences of both patients and caregivers, and the ongoing search for treatments. The book combines rigorous research with compassionate insight into how this disease strips away the self. Shenk offers readers a thorough understanding of Alzheimer's that balances scientific knowledge with the deeply personal reality of living with memory loss.
Genres: biography, science, medical, non-fiction, health, academic
Vibes: compassionate, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: medical-mystery, personal-journey
Period: 1906, 20th-century, 21st-century
400 pages · Hardcover · HarperCollins