Tangled Minds: Understanding Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias [Hardcover]

Muriel R. Gillick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1998

Alzheimer's is the most common form of the mental degeneration that has struck more than 4 million of America's elderly. Yet, as Dr. Muriel R. Gillick convincingly demonstrates, confusion and loss of memory in any form is a disease known as dementia, and not an inevitable part of aging. Tangled Minds provides a comprehensive overview of dementia, its history, the politics of its fight for recognition, its pathology, the research being done to ascertain its causes, and the treatments now being used to ameliorate its symptoms. Weaving these details around the story of the decline of one Alzheimer's patient, Gillick provides a human interest story that is also an analytical study. Lucid on medical details while fully capturing the pathos of dementia with insight and compassion, Tangled Minds will be an invaluable resource for family, friends, caregivers, and professionals dealing with Alzheimer's and similar disorders.
•Dementia has affected 4 million Americans.
•As baby boomers age they want information about the disease that will increasingly affect their lives.
•Muriel Gillick's book is more comprehensive and thoughtful than the conventional self-help books available on the subject.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Gillick, an associate director of the Geriatrics Fellowship Program at Harvard Medical School, began this study convinced that to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's was one of the worst things that could happen to you. Yet as a result of her extensive research into dementia, of which Alzheimer's is the most common manifestation, she now concludes that those with mild or moderate dementia can lead acceptable lives, although the illness results in eventual intellectual deterioration. By describing the progression of Alzheimer's through the case study of a composite patient and her family, which she interweaves with an informed discussion of the science, history and politics of dementia, Gillick points out mistaken public assumptions about the condition. According to the author, although ongoing research should continue, a cure is not imminent, and the elderly cannot prevent dementia just by keeping active and eating right. Gillick believes that to develop a humane and responsible public policy, society must accept the reality that a large number of the very old will experience dementia.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Unlike many popular books on Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, this is not a how-to guide for caregivers. Gillick, a practicing physician and expert gerontologist, brings together two distinct sides of the dementia story. The first side, the toll on the victim and his or her family, is recounted through the representative experiences of an elderly woman diagnosed with Alzheimer's. The second side concerns the science, history, politics, and image of dementia in the United States. These two sides combine to create a compelling narrative with factual information. Although this book will be of special interest to those affected by dementia, it is designed to inform all members of society. The appendix of resources, notes, and references provide opportunity for further exploration of the topic. Recommended for consumer health collections and public libraries that already hold a how-to guide for dementia caregivers.?Aida Marissa Smith, Loma Linda Univ. Lib., CA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Adult; 1 edition (April 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525941452
• ISBN-13: 978-0525941453
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,996,904 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #92 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Mental Health > Dementia

More About the Author

Muriel R. Gillick is a geriatrician, palliative care physician, and writer. She sees patients at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, a multi-specialty group practice in Boston and surrounding communities, and she is also a Clinical Professor at Harvard Medical School. Her scholarly work focuses on ethical issues near the end of life and is conducted at the Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute/Harvard Medical School.

As an undergraduate history major at Swarthmore College, she developed what would prove to be a life-long interest in German history, World War II, and the refugee experience. Her forte is writing stories based on real people and putting the narrative into a broader context. She used the same technique in "Once They Had a Country" as in her books on medical themes written for a general audience: "Choosing Medical Care in Old Age," "Tangled Minds," "Lifelines," and "The Denial of Aging."

Dr. Gillick is married and has three adult sons. She lives with her husband outside Boston.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a combined personal and professional review of Alzheimer's, October 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Tangled Minds: Understanding Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias (Hardcover)

I picked up this book while browzing the bookstore in an effort to make sense of the behavior my family was seeing in my 87 year old mother who had had a stroke (right brain) in 12/97. Having been told that she was suffering from "vascular dementia", I proceeded to investigate what that really meant. Even my son, a physician, was not really clear on how that differed from Alzheimer's. Dr. Gillick's book outlines a typical course of dementia, from early to late stage using a fictional composite patient drawn from her medical experience. She interstices this story with factual material on legal, political, medical research, and cost issues. I have recommended this book to friends and colleagues interested in aging, particularly related to brain assaults. There is much good material in this book even if the patient is not a diagnosed Alzheimer's sufferer.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars good information but difficult format, September 28, 2008

By 

A. Senetra "Boxerboy" (Waynesville, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tangled Minds: Understanding Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias (Paperback)

While I found the content of the information accurate the format of the author praising their own good decision making was tedious. I purchased the book expecting a more straight forward approach to the material and soon put the book down for others including "The 36-Hour Day" which was a better fit for my needs.