The Aging Brain (Maps of the Mind) (Paperback)

by Lawrence J. Whalley (Author) "Why do some old people remain alert and vigorous at an age when others are declining mentally and physically?..." (more)
Key Phrases: regulatory biomolecules, compensatory synaptogenesis, ageing brain, New York, Second World War (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
If there's anything that terrifies middle-aged Americans more than heart disease and cancer, it's probably Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. Readers interested in the latest scientific research about how the brain ages and what, if anything, a person can do to reduce the odds of serious mental deterioration will find this scientific overview demanding but enlightening. Whalley, a professor of mental health, studies the molecular biology of dementia. Although genetic and molecular biology are the focus of several chapters here, Whalley's broadly based consideration of the impact of age on the human brain includes fascinating chapters on the social and psychological aspects of aging, parallels between stroke and dementia, and measuring intelligence. The author explores the possibility that, in the future, science may be able to repair the effects of aging on the brain, and examines the potential computers and virtual reality may have for providing the types of stimulation aging brains need. Not an easy read but valuable for the wide range of up-to-date information it provides. Mary Carroll
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"Fascinating....[Whalley] is able to show that though much of what we take for granted about the mental processes of the older person is not simple, we may indeed be able to alleviate the effects of mental deterioration." -- Science News

"Refreshing... clearly and cleverly written." -- Booklist

"Straightforward.... A readable academic volume." -- New York Review of Books

"Clearly and cleverly written for easy reading. A good basic reader that can catapult the interested reader into more in-depth investigation." -- Choice

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• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Columbia University Press (March 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0231120257
• ISBN-13: 978-0231120258
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: No customer reviews yet. Be the first.
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #973,785 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
  
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• In-Print Editions: Hardcover  |  All Editions