The End of Memory: A Natural History of Aging and Alzheimer’s

by Jay Ingram

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.

An illuminating biography of "the plague of the twenty-first century" and scientists' efforts to understand and, they hope, prevent it, The End of Memory is a book for those who want to find out the true story behind an affliction that courses through families and wreaks havoc on the lives of millions.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Psychology, Health, History, Medical, Neuroscience

289 pages, Hardcover

First published December 30, 2014

About the author

Jay Ingram CM (born March 20, 1945) is a Canadian author and broadcaster. He was host of the television show Daily Planet (originally titled @discovery.ca), which airs on Discovery Channel Canada, since the channel's inception in 1995. Ingram's last episode of Daily Planet aired on June 5, 2011. Ingram announced his retirement but stated he will make guest appearances on Daily Planet. He was succeeded by Dan Riskin. His book The End of Memory: A Natural History of Aging and Alzheimer’s is forthcoming from St. Martin's Press in 2015.

Reviews

[Etienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting study and reflexion on Alzaheimer, dementia and the brain in general. Probably not the best vulgarize book, some part were a bit complex and present with a vocabulary that might need at least a small background in biology or neurology to understand it all. That put aside, a solid book on a subject that is an interest of me for something close to a decade now and a disease that is still not talk about as much as it deserve and need to be!

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Readable distillation of the numerous "best guesses" (aging? aluminum? genetics? sugar? estrogen?) for the causes of Alzheimer's ... helps sort out the many scare stories, scientific studies, and possible prevention/cure suggestions. It's also a very sobering read ... the disease is still not understood well enough to develop effective treatments, the ability to predict individual risk is hazy, and promising cures are not on the immediate horizon. And so we will do our best to enjoy each day, take good care of our bodies and our brains, and care for our loved ones whose memories are dimming with resilience, love and compassion.

[Adam · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know if it's the loss of memory or the slow deterioration of the brain, but I've always found the Alzheimer's disease to be quite fascinating. So, you'd think that a book exploring the workings of the disease and also the research being done to combat Alzheimer's would make for an interesting read. But unfortunately, I found this to be incredibly simple, and oftentimes fairly monotonous. And with all the mentions of dementia throughout the book, why not change the title to inform readers that the talk of Alzheimer's is strangely limited to only a few chapters?

[Karen Scarpelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good introduction to the current theories about causes of the disease and research into potential treatments / cures. Not an exhaustive overview for the lay person a la The Emperors of Maladies (about cancer), but if you have any interest in learning about Alzheimer's Disease I recommend it. A member of my family has been stricken so I was left depressed and frustrated as it seems we are many decades away from any kind of breakthrough.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not nearly as exhaustive or deep as Mukherjee's book, which I recently finished, on cancer, this history of Alzheimer's nonetheless gives the lay reader a good handle on our current understanding of the disease. Ingram, a journalist, has obviously done a lot of research and devoted a great deal of thought to the implications of the research. I particularly liked the first part of the book, which, as the title suggests, focused on aging and our attitudes toward it. Reading this will give you a good starting point to stay current with the rapidly evolving research around this most dreaded maladies of aging.

[Tugbadursun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alzheimer hakkında çok kapsamlı bir kitap, bazen ayrıntılar sizi yorsa ve yavaşlatsa da bu konuda bilgi sahibi olmak isteyenler için biçilmiş kaftan.

[Kitty Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was astonished at how much I enjoyed this book. I was riveted to the last page. I hadn't intended to read this book but searching in my local library, I couldn't help notice the words "Riveting..Excellent...A Must Read" ; a review by 'Publishers Weekly' emblazoned on the cover of this book .I was astounded and curious . How could a book on Alzheimers be a "must read" I wondered.

I was actually scared to read it ,but from the first page I was drawn in . Although it does contain medical terms and a knowledge of some biology (which I have) is an advantage, it is designed for the layman and I found it easy reading with considerable narrative drive .I hesitated at the chapter 9 on the 'Nun study' ; a study I knew that contained absolute and accurate predictors for who would go on to develop the symptoms of the overt ravages of this hideous disease and who would not (even if they had the amyloid plaques and tau tangles that appear present in Alzheimers)....It was astonishing that the researchers involved in the nun study could review material written by the nuns at age 19 or 20 and accurately predict who would succumb to the ravages of Alzheimers ! With much trepidation I read on and heaved an immense sigh of relief as the information contained in this chapter would indicate(on the basis of my own writing at age 19) that even if I did develop this nightmare disease it is likely I would be spared the effects . I confess this knowledge increased my enjoyment in my further reading of the book considerably !

"The End of Memory", is indeed a "must read"; not just because it is likely that we or someone we know will eventually fall prey to this condition ,but because as our species seeks greater longevity we must remain aware that dementia and alzheimer's are the great risk that comes with living longer ! Knowing this, it is surprising that more funding is not allocated to exploring these medical conditions . Books like this are critical in raising awareness.

[Barry Martin Vass · Rating 4 out of 5]

So little is known about Alzheimer's disease, even at this late date, that reading about it is sort of like trying to solve a crime using only circumstantial evidence. Throughout history, and I'm thinking back to the ancient Greeks and Romans here, there was always the belief that, as the body aged, the brain would age and/or falter at the same time. And while dementia was acknowledged, it wasn't that widespread because people didn't live that long. Now however, with medicine and science increasing life expectancy in leaps and bounds (Author Ingram estimates that life expectancy is increased one year for every four lived), the brain is being tested as never before. Here's a quote from the book: "Alzheimer's disease today affects up to 10 percent of those over sixty-five and nearly 50 percent of those over eighty-five." That kind of spike kind of takes your breath away, doesn't it? So age is a primary causation of Alzheimer's, as are diabetes, high body mass index and high blood pressure. Conversely, some factors that will reduce the chances of getting Alzheimer's (or any dementia) are: a higher education, a mentally challenging job, conscientiousness, low body weight, adequate exercise, an active social life, and sufficient sleep. So, sitting in front of a television for hours a day won't cut it: you have to physically participate in life to avoid Alzheimer's disease. This might be too technically dense for the casual reader, but folks whose relatives and neighbors are afflicted with AD will find this a treasure of information.

[Snowy M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't finish it before the due date and didn't want to renew it because I think the reading level required too much focus and sophistication on my part. However, this book didn't take the direction that I thought it would have. I did learn a decent amount from it though in regards to complications in studies, the history of these studies and scholars' early theories about the existence of Alzheimer's. It was interesting to see the author dissect history to point out how or where scholars and society might have misinterpreted the struggles the elderly went through and it may not have appeared until the life expectancy of humans increasing as time passes. Although it was too sophisticated for my liking, it does inspire me to research the history of this disease I fear so much as a 20-something year old!

[Paul Lemcke · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you know nothing about the science behind dementia and you are interested in reading about all the very interesting (but so far failed) research into Alzheimer's Disease (at least up to 2014), then this is a great introduction. Most of it doesn't require any science or medical background, but for those parts where Ingram gets a little more technical, it would be helpful to have an intermediate knowledge base. It looks like it may still be years before we have an understanding to the Alzheimer's problem, so do expect sunshine and roses from this book. A very interesting read though, for the science-curious reader.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to read this book because my mom was diagnosed with dementia in 2009. I wanted to learn more about the history of the disease, what happens in the brain, etc. This book was very informative and I found that for the most part I could understand what was written (I don't have a medical or science background). I recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about Alzheimer's/dementia.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much still to be learned, not the least of which is neurological functions and genetic risk

Risk can be modified: Health, diet (particularly low sugar), education, activity levels are protecting factors

p257
Daily exercise is the first and most important thing ...can be threaded through your everyday, life like walking

But age is a risk factor and as humans are living longer, and with increasing rates of obesity and diabetes, bound to be more dementia

[Bilal Haque · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very thoroughly researched book about the history, path of physiology, and cultural aspects of Alzheimer’s disease. Can get kind of dense but overall was a very interesting read. I really appreciated how thoroughly the author covered the current research and theories regarding potential pathophysiology and treatments.

[Justin Wong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite technical information
gave me a bit of a refresher of high school biology.

Goes into quite a lot of detail about the history, the experiments, the discoveries of alzheimer's and how they are trying to find treatment for it.

Very good overview

[Porterhorse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ingram is a journalist, and this is written in a journalistic style. I found it somewhat disappointing as I wanted more detailed case studies and descriptions of disease processes. Still worth reading.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid book on Alzheimer's and Ingram is careful to balance all the claims and unknowns with the disease. Useful for the long view of Alzheimer's research as well. My main take away: sugar is very bad. Avoid sugar at all costs.

[Lisa Timpf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and informative, and written in Jay Ingram's distinctive style--I could imagine his voice as I read the book. Jay has a talent for presenting complex facts in a digestible way.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very well-researched and still highly readable. A nice overview of the complexities of dementia research and treatment.

[Lucy Briggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

With a 2014 copyright date, you realize how much more we understand about Alzheimer's in just 4 years, yet how little we actually know.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Readable and enlightening, like so much of Jay Ingram's work.

[Keeley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly fascinating. This one was not at all what I expected it to be in a very good way.

[Aiza Idris (biblio_mom) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very hard to understand but might be suitable for study purposes.

[Munirah MacLean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting science of Alzheimers.
Learned a lot.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overall discussion of the history and science of Alzheimer’s.

[Elisya Nazman · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You never know where knowledge will come from - sometimes it appears in the strangest places."

[Hannah Mager · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy writing style. Somewhat repetitive studies with inconclusive findings, sadly. I still found it interesting and eye-opening on where our research has been up until the mid-‘10s.

[Corie Sanford · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent introduction to the history of Alzheimer's research; it falls in the gray area between an introductory-level text and scientific history ( although leaning MUCH more towards the former). My main issue is that Ingram often only half-describes or explains what he's referring to (in terms of how certain processes work, how some research is conducted, etc) and I found myself - a complete newbie to neurology of any kind - always a bit in the dark. My guess is that this text would be a great deal too entry level for anyone who knows much about the disease at all. That said, I have had many questions answered, and it's admittedly a complex story to tackle. Worth the time, if you're interested in AD.

[Jason Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very thorough overview of the current science and the history of research of Alzheimer's and dementia.
Nice presentation of what is currently known about the risk factors and what could be indicators of potential cognitive degeneration in an individuals future.
Also an insight in why some potential treatments are either not viable or do not yet have sufficient evidence of effectiveness.
Some of the statistics on how risk factors increase the odds of developing Alzheimer's is interesting and may explain why it is so prevalent in North America.
If you have any interest in the subject this book provides a wealth of knowledge.

[Denise Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introductory book on Alzheimer's and dementia. Not a lot of definitive answers were given in the book, but that accurately reflects the science as it exists today. It was somewhat comforting to read that the perceived epidemic of dementia has probably always been present as a function of aging and is not really new. The human brain is so very complex that understanding the causes and developing cures for dementia are probably far off in the future. There seem to be no proven ways to avoid dementia but maybe a few ways to keep it at bay for longer periods. Ingram does a good job in summarizing the current information.

[Robert Bogue · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a thief. It steals. It steals the things which everyone holds dearest. It deprives us of what we believed we could never be deprived of. It’s a cruel and ruthless villain without remorse, as it takes the best and brightest among us and clouds them in confusion and contradiction, dimming or diminishing their light before the end of life. This villain is Alzheimer’s Disease and one of our dear friends has become its victim. She is an amazing woman who is being robbed of her identity, her memories, and her history.

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