The Forgetting: Alzheimer's, Portrait of an EpidemicDoubleday, 2001 - 290 sider An urgent and moving exploration of the Alzheimer's epidemic, The Forgetting is a dazzling meditation on the nature of memory and self and on the disease that robs people of both. Alzheimer's disease is a demographic time bomb. Since 1975, the number of Americans afflicted has risen from five hundred thousand to five million; over the next fifty years, an estimated eighty to "one hundred million more people worldwide will succumb to it. But it is the story behind these numbers that makes The Forgetting such a landmark work. A magnificent synthesis of history, science, politics, psychology, and profound human drama, the book explores the nature of a disease that attacks not merely memory but the very core of our human identity. Delving into such diverse areas as art history, literature, genetics, and neurobiology, David Shenk shows that Alzheimer's particular terror, the gradual eradication of memory and of mind is as old as humankind itself. He convincingly posits that such historical figures as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Jonathan Swift and Frederick Law Olmstead were caught in the disease's insidious grip. Moving portraits of contemporary patients, their families, and their caregivers drive home the sad pattern of regression Alzheimer's exacts, a pathology that eerily mirrors child development in reverse. Yet Shenk offers a well of empathy and understanding for families striving to better understand and come to terms with their loss. With equal mastery Shenk charts the complicated race to find a cure. As scientists pursue a treatment worth billions of dollars, the brutal competition among them poses a serious threat to the traditional ethic of sharing vital research. Butthere "are heartening signs of progress, and for the first time there is excitement among scientists that a cure may indeed be possible. Shenk eloquently calls Alzheimer's "death by a thousand subtractions." The Forgetting is at once a powerful examination of what this means and a forthright discussion of the impact this epidemic will have on the life of every reader. |
Fra bogen
Resultater 1-3 af 26
Side 102
... able to discern anything as detailed as plaques and tangles . Alois Alzheimer was , at the time of Emerson's decline , still a raucous Bavarian youth . Franz Nissl had not yet in- vented his important tissue stains . Emil Kraepelin had ...
... able to discern anything as detailed as plaques and tangles . Alois Alzheimer was , at the time of Emerson's decline , still a raucous Bavarian youth . Franz Nissl had not yet in- vented his important tissue stains . Emil Kraepelin had ...
Side 128
... able to represent reality through symbols ( to count on his fin- gers , for example ) , but he is no longer able to rely on a solid foun- dation of logic ( to understand the importance of going to bed early if he has to get up early the ...
... able to represent reality through symbols ( to count on his fin- gers , for example ) , but he is no longer able to rely on a solid foun- dation of logic ( to understand the importance of going to bed early if he has to get up early the ...
Side 175
... able to alter it . Sorting through mortality data from mice , beagles , and humans who had died of natural causes , they were able to chart Gompertz U - shaped mortality curves in order to re- veal each animal's genetic schedule of ...
... able to alter it . Sorting through mortality data from mice , beagles , and humans who had died of natural causes , they were able to chart Gompertz U - shaped mortality curves in order to re- veal each animal's genetic schedule of ...
Indhold
The God Who Forgot and the | 44 |
The Race | 62 |
Irrespective of | 72 |
Copyright | |
14 andre sektioner vises ikke
Andre udgaver - Se alle
Almindelige termer og sætninger
ability able Alzheimer Alzheimer's Alzheimer's disease animals asked became become began begin body brain called caregivers cause cells century children's close course create death decline dementia designed disease doctor drug early Emerson experience face fact feel finally forget friends function genetic glucose happens House human hundred ideas imagine important Kooning late later less letter live longer look lose loss lost matter meaning memory mice mind months Morris natural neurons never once organic patient perhaps person plaques possible powerful problem progress question recalled remember reported Roses scientists seemed senile sense stages started suffering suggested talk tangles thing thought thousand tion trying turn understand University write wrote York