In Pursuit of Memory
Book

In Pursuit of Memory

The Fight Against Alzheimer’s

Joseph Jebelli
Little, Brown Spark, 2017
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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Scientific
  • Eye Opening
  • Engaging

Recommendation

Neuroscientist Joseph Jebelli documents the history of research into Alzheimer’s disease, from its discovery more than a century ago to the promise and heartbreak of new treatments. Jebelli’s motivation springs from his grandfather’s suffering and death. He reveals worrisome trends that have turned a condition that people long dismissed as part of the normal aging process into an epidemic – and one of the world’s leading causes of death. Jebelli’s book dates from 2017, so progress against Alzheimer’s has continued beyond its purview, but his historical research and perspective remain valuable.

Summary

Neuroscientist Joseph Jebelli’s grandfather Abbas was in his 70s when Alzheimer’s disease deprived him of his memories and his life.

The death of Joseph Jebelli’s grandfather from Alzheimer’s disease inspired him to become a neuroscientist and Alzheimer’s researcher. Despite progress in understanding the mysteries, sufferings, and proliferation of the disease, Alzheimer’s has steadily afflicted an increasing number of people among the aging global population. By 2050, it will be the second-leading cause of death after cancer, affecting 135 million individuals worldwide. Eventually, one in three people born today will contract Alzheimer’s – unless a preventive treatment is found. 

Alzheimer’s affects whole families. Its symptoms engulf everyone around it, causing emotional turmoil for those who can only watch while their loved ones slowly slip away. Gradually, Alzheimer’s patients forget everything – how to dress, lock the door, turn off the stove, speak, or even eat and swallow.

You may worry you might be contracting Alzheimer’s when you forget where you put your keys. But occasional memory lapses should not alarm you. Sufferers first...

About the Author

British neuroscientist Dr Joseph Jebelli studied neuroscience at University College London, then worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Washington. He has also written How The Mind Changed: A Human History of Our Evolving Brain and The Brain at Rest: Why Doing Nothing Can Change Your Life.

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