The End of Memory

“[A] riveting tale of Alzheimer's disease . . . Ingram's first-rate medical writing makes this excellent history a must-read.” ―Publishers Weekly (starred review)It is a wicked disease that robs its victims of their memories, their ability to think clearly, and ultimately their lives. For centuries, those afflicted by Alzheimer's disease have suffered its debilitating effects while family members sit by, watching their loved ones disappear a little more each day until the person they used to know is gone forever. The disease was first described by German psychologist and neurologist Alois Alzheimer in 1906. One hundred years and a great deal of scientific effort later, much more is known about Alzheimer's, but it still affects millions around the world, and there is no cure in sight.In The End of Memory, award-winning science author Jay Ingram writes a biography of this disease that attacks the brains of patients. He charts the history of the disease from before it was noted by Alois Alzheimer through to the twenty-first century, explains the fascinating science of plaques and tangles, recounts the efforts to understand and combat the disease, and introduces us to the passionate researchers who are working to find a cure.“In this deft overview, science writer Jay Ingram unravels the complexities of the science past and present.” ―Nature“Ingram's refreshing voice transforms mysteries into compelling reading. In the tradition of Stephen Jay Gould and Oliver Sacks, [Ingram] manages a difficult trick—making the minutiae of science seem alluring to the uninitiated.” ―Maclean’s (Canada)