The only comprehensive guide to the history and science of Alzheimer's disease

With vivid examples, dementia expert Michael Hornberger takes you on a whistle-stop tour of every aspect of Alzheimer's disease, from its origins to modern diagnosis and treatment.

Professor Hornberger shows how you can protect yourself and your family from developing the disease and explains:

• What causes Alzheimer's disease
• Why Alzheimer's often affects memory first
• The role of genetics in raising and lowering risk for the disease
• The chances you will inherit Alzheimer's from your parents
• The practical steps you can take to reduce your risk of getting dementia

Prof Hornberger delves into this most common form of dementia by looking at the very first patient who was diagnosed with 'Alzheimer's' by a pioneering doctor, Alois Alzheimer. She could remember her wedding but not her husband's name or where they lived.

This is often true of Alzheimer's disease - people with it are often said to be 'living in the past, ' as their old memories thrive, while newer memories are difficult to create. However, the disease has many variants and Prof Hornberger goes into the lesser-known ones such as Posterior Cortical Atrophy, which does not start with memory loss.

He also explains the role that inherited genes play in transmitting Alzheimer's, including the important difference between risk genes and familial Alzheimer's disease genes - which make developing the disease a near certainty.

Finally, the book looks at new 'biomarkers' and blood tests to detect, diagnose and monitor Alzheimer's, and the new treatments emerging.

Prof Hornberger warns that popularly touted techniques to prevent Alzheimer's may not be worth your time or money. Instead, he sets out the steps you can take to protect yourself from this debilitating degenerative disease.

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