There's a Book for That: Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month
We didn’t want to let the month of November close out without recognizing National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. From The White House Proclamation on October 31, 2023: “Over six million Americans live with Alzheimer’s disease, a form of dementia that deprives people of their precious memories, thoughts, and identity. During National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, we honor the extraordinary courage, strength, and resilience of people facing this devastating disease. We recognize the support of families and caregivers who stand by their loved one’s side and help them age with dignity. We resolve to continue advancing scientific research and treatment options to ensure a brighter future for all Americans facing Alzheimer’s.” The following are new and acclaimed titles that offer support and education:
Now in paperback, the New York Times bestseller that explores the intricacies of how we remember, why we forget, and what we can do to protect our memories, from the Harvard-trained neuroscientist and bestselling author of Still Alice.
Resilience in the Face of Dementia is a deft combination of narrative and portraiture that breaks the taboo around dementia, replacing the fear and futility with empathy and nuance. A graphic designer, a writer, a public servant, a retired PhD, a 29-year-old with early-onset Alzheimer’s. These are just some of the 50 million people living with dementia who share their deeply personal stories with Joe Wallace in The Day after Yesterday, a powerful collection of portraits and personal stories that humanizes the millions of people living with the disease. Each story in this poignant volume offers a unique and powerful lesson—not just about how to live with a terminal illness, but how to do so with resilience and dignity.
An inspiring memoir about a father and son entering World’s Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji despite one of them battling Alzheimer’s. This timely, and deeply moving father-son adventure sheds light on the hard truths of this disease while giving readers hope of all that still can be achieved.
In Love is an unforgettable portrait of one couple’s determination to support each other in their last journey together. Amy Bloom and her husband Brian’s world was changed forever when an MRI confirmed the truth they could no longer ignore. Bloom reflects back on the loving marriage they shared, and then the sudden cascade of things going wrong… Finally confronted with the diagnosis and the daily frustrations and realities of Alzheimer’s, Brian became determined to die on his feet, not live on his knees. Together they find their difficult way to Dignitas, an organization based in Switzerland that empowers a person to end their own life with dignity and peace.
The creator of Deadwood and NYPD Blue reflects on his tumultuous life, driven by a nearly insatiable creative energy and a matching penchant for self-destruction. Life’s Work is a profound memoir from a brilliant mind taking stock as Alzheimer’s loosens his hold on his own past.
In The End of Alzheimer’s Dale Bredesen laid out the science behind his revolutionary new program that is the first to both prevent and reverse symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Now he lays out the detailed program he uses with his own patients. Accessible and detailed, it can be tailored to anyone’s needs and will enhance cognitive ability at any age. With inspiring stories from patients who have reversed cognitive decline and are now thriving, this book shifts the treatment paradigm and offers a new and effective way to enhance cognition as well as unprecedented hope to sufferers of this now no longer deadly disease. Also available in a spanish edition here.
When Dr. Arthur Kleinman, an eminent Harvard psychiatrist and social anthropologist, began caring for his wife, Joan, after she was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, he found just how far the act of caregiving extended beyond the boundaries of medicine. In The Soul of Care: The Moral Education of a Husband and a Doctor, Kleinman delivers a deeply human and inspiring story of his life in medicine and his marriage to Joan, and he describes the practical, emotional and moral aspects of caretaking. He also writes about the problems our society faces as medical technology advances and the cost of health care soars but caring for patients no longer seems important.
First person stories of patients who recovered from Alzheimer’s Disease–and how they did it. Dr. Bredesen’s patients have not just survived; they have thrived to rediscover fulfilling lives, rewarding relationships, and meaningful work. This book will give unprecedented hope to patients and their families.
FOR YOUNGER READERS
This poignant story about a young elephant and his grandma is an eloquent account of the all too familiar tragedy of memory loss, and the love of family that never leaves. It can be especially hard for children to process the grief of watching their grandparents forget themselves when suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia. Linda Shute’s Remind Me approaches the issue with humanity and compassion, celebrating the lasting love that brings families together. Her art has a soft, gentle tone and depicts an idyllic jungle setting inhabited by a charming elephant duo.
For more on these and related titles visit the collection, Alzheimer’s Month Titles
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