The Problem of Alzheimer's: How Science, Culture, and Politics Turned a Rare Disease into a Crisis and What We Can Do About It Free Audiobook Download by Jason Karlawish

Alzheimer's disease is a particularly difficult disease to diagnose. It's not like cancer, which grows and leaves some physical evidence behind. Instead, it starts with a person feeling like they are starting to forget things and then develops into an inability to think clearly and an overall decline in functioning. Alzheimer's also tends to be very stigmatizing for mental health professionals because the personalities with the disease often behave badly or become aggressive as their cognitive function declines.

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive disease that gradually destroys brain tissue and impairs memory, thinking, and behavior. It has become a crisis in the United States because of the prevalence of aging baby boomers and an increased demand for long-term care insurance that threatens to bankrupt our entire system for supporting elderly Americans.

"This beautifully written, compelling book tells the story of what happened when one disease became a crisis. Alzheimer's is no longer rare, and it has given rise to an avalanche of dire predictions and treatments. Karlawish argues that we shouldn't succumb to this pressure wave, but instead should look at how science, culture, and politics have turned Alzheimer's into a crisis. He is hopeful about where we can go from here."

Alzheimer's is no longer considered a rare disease and, in many countries, is regarded as a crisis that all citizens should take part in the effort to solve. The problem with this mentality is that it leads us to ignore the effects of Alzheimer's on individual lives and instead view the disease through a broad, impersonal lens.

The Problem of Alzheimer's: How Science, Culture, and Politics Turned a Rare Disease into a Crisis and What We Can Do About It is the first book to explore how what was once considered a rare disease has now become a national health crisis. Author Jason Karlawish guides us through the changing landscape of research in the field of Alzheimer's from its beginnings in the 1930s to our current understanding of this pathology that has taken hold of families and society. Karlawish explains how knowledge about Alzheimer's has been influenced by larger cultural shifts including feminism and science-based medicine.

Alzheimer's disease was once one of the most prevalent forms of dementia in adults and has become a much more common illness in recent decades. Thankfully, there are currently no cures for Alzheimer's, but many researchers believe that this is primarily because the field of research on Alzheimer's has been "hijacked" by a powerful and financially lucrative industry: pharmaceuticals. As I listened to the audiobook, I was captivated not only by Karlawish's deep knowledge and passion for science but also by his ability to articulate complex scientific concepts in an easy-to-understand way. Throughout most of the book, Karlawish maintains a balanced perspective by following both sides of the debate: he supports current medical practices while simultaneously acknowledging that