As the essays in this volume show, conceptualizing dementia has always been a complex process. With contributions from noted professionals in psychiatry, neurology, molecular biology, sociology, history, ethics, and health policy, Concepts of Alzheimer Disease looks at the ways in which Alzheimer disease has been defined in various historical and cultural contexts. The book covers every major development in the field, from the first case described by Alois Alzheimer in 1907 through groundbreaking work on the genetics of the disease. Essays examine not only the prominent role that biomedical and clinical researchers have played in defining Alzheimer disease, but also the ways in which the perspectives of patients, their caregivers, and the broader public have shaped concepts.

Alzheimer's Disease: Lifecourse Perspectives on Risk Reduction summarizes the growing body of knowledge on the distribution and causes of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in human populations, providing the reader with knowledge on how we define the disease and what its risk and protective factors are in the context of a life-course approach. At the conclusion of the book, the reader will understand why Alzheimer's disease likely begins at conception, then progresses through early-life and adult risk factors that ultimately impact the balance between pathologic insults in the brain and the ability of the brain to modify disease symptoms. In contrast to edited volumes that may have little cohesion, this book focuses on an integrated life-course approach to the epidemiology of dementia, in particular, Alzheimer's disease. - Reviews the current science surrounding Alzheimer's disease - Provides a primer of foundational knowledge on the disease's epidemiology and biostatistics - Utilizes a life-course approach, providing a novel and integrated view of the evolution of this illness from genes to brain reserve - Uses the 'threshold model'—a theory first described by Dr. Mortimer and widely accepted today—which incorporates the idea of risk factors for the pathology and expression of the disease - Proposes that improving brain health through modifiable behaviors can delay disease onset until a later age - Examines the future of prevention of Alzheimer's disease, a subject of great current interest

What are the boundary zones between normal aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD)? Are many elderly people whom we regard as normal actually in the early stages of AD? Alzheimer's disease does not develop overnight; the early phases may last for years or even decades. Recently, clinical investigators have identified a transitional condition between normal aging and and very early Alzheimer's disease that they have called mild cognitive impairment, or MCI. This term typically refers to memory impairment beyond what one would expect in individuals of a given age whose other abilities to function in daily life are well preserved. Persons who meet the criteria for mild cognitive impairment have an increased risk of progressing to Alzheimer's disease in the near future. Though many questions about this condition and its underlying neuropathology remain open, full clinical trials are currently underway worldwide aimed at preventing the progression from MCI to Alzheimer's disease. This book addresses the spectrum of issues involved in mild cognitive impairment, and includes chapters on clinical studies, neuropsychology, neuroimaging, neuropathology, biological markers, diagnostic approaches, and treatment. It is intended for clinicians, researchers, and students interested in aging and cognition, among them neurologists, psychiatrists, geriatricians, clinical psychologists, and neuropsychologists.

New edition, completely rewritten, with new chapters on endovascular surgery and mitochrondrial and ion channel disorders.

Challenges conventional perceptions about Alzheimer's disease to offer readers alternative approaches to memory loss and aging that can be aided through simple nutritional and exercise strategies.

A caregiver's guide to improving life for those with Alzheimer's disease and related forms of dementia. This book is written primarily for caregivers of individuals with dementia. The information that is presented in this book can benefit anyone who wants to improve their understanding of dementia and the practical ways that we can improve the quality of life of those with dementia. The Dementia Concept is structured in three parts. In Part 1, Understand, you will learn the signs, symptoms, and stages of dementia. This section provides an overview of the ways that those with dementia can maintain a vital connection to the world around them. In Part 2, Connect, you will learn the core principles of connecting to individuals with dementia. Mindful interaction, conversation facilitation, creation of a routine, and the use of music as medicine can have profound impacts. Read examples of the successfulness of these methods. In Part 3, Engage, you will learn to apply The Dementia Concept principles to even more specific events and interactions, and create a schedule to optimize each day. These holistic approaches to care have been repeatedly shown to benefit both individuals with dementia and the people who care for them. "Books that help people!" - Blue Sail Publications, Inc.

The Neurobiology of Aging and Alzheimer Disease in Down Syndrome provides a multidisciplinary approach to the understanding of aging and Alzheimer disease in Down syndrome that is synergistic and focused on efforts to understand the neurobiology as it pertains to interventions that will slow or prevent disease. The book provides detailed knowledge of key molecular aspects of aging and neurodegeneration in Down Syndrome by bringing together different models of the diseases and highlighting multiple techniques. Additionally, it includes case studies and coverage of neuroimaging, neuropathological and biomarker changes associated with these cohorts. This is a must-have resource for researchers who work with or study aging and Alzheimer disease either in the general population or in people with Down syndrome, for academic and general physicians who interact with sporadic dementia patients and need more information about Down syndrome, and for new investigators to the aging and Alzheimer/Down syndrome arena. - Discusses the complexities involved with aging and Alzheimer's disease in Down syndrome - Summarizes the neurobiology of aging that requires management in adults with DS and leads to healthier aging and better quality of life into old age - Serves as learning tool to orient researchers to the key challenges and offers insights to help establish critical areas of need for further research