No-nonsense approach to Alzheimer’s

A small book for a big subject best describes this concise yet comprehensive handbook on Alzheimer’s disease. The authors have backgrounds in neurology, psychiatry and pharmacy, and have written a book that complements the plethora of similar short books on Alzheimer’s disease that are currently available.

In a practical, no-nonsense style it covers the usual topics of diagnosis, disease stages, neuropathology, and drug treatment. It also includes information on diagnostic biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease, explanations of the various cognitive tests that may be used, and an excellent chapter on current therapies that goes far beyond the cholinesterase inhibitors. The authors have also been adventurous in looking ahead at possible new approaches to treatment.

There are a few negatives. As with any published material, parts of the book will be out of date very quickly and this has happened with the information on amyloid immunisation. The contact list is almost entirely North American, with a little United Kingdom information. However, the reference list is multinational, with contributions from many countries.

The book is reasonably priced at $42. It is intended as an overview for the general practitioner, but it would also be very useful for health professionals working in the dementia field who are looking for more information, particularly in the area of current therapies.

Susan E KurrleRehabilitation and Aged Care Physician Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital, Hornsby, NSW