"Part case studies, part meditation on the past, present and future of the disease, [this book] traces Alzheimer's disease from its discovery and tells the story of the biomedical breakthroughs that may allow it to finally be prevented and treated by medicine. While it is a scathing indictment of our health care system, it is also an argument for how we can live with dementia; the ways patients can reclaim their autonomy and redefine their sense of self, how families can support their loved ones, and the innovative reforms we can make as a society that would give caregivers and patients better quality of life. Rich in science, history, and characters, The Disease of the Century takes us inside cutting edge laboratories, patients' homes, caregivers' support groups, progressive assisted living facilities, and Jason Karlawish's own practice at the Penn Memory Center"-- Provided by publisher.

Introduction : the disease of the century -- Part 1 : Alzheimer's unbound -- Part 2 : the birth of Alzheimer's disease -- Part 3 : living well in the house of Alzheimer's -- Part 4 : a humanitarian problem.