ÒAlzheimerÕs disease rewrites the terms of a marriage in this debut memoirÉ a touching personal accountÉÓ Ð Kirkus Reviews
Ò... a concise and moving treatise that supports and informs caregivers of AlzheimerÕs patients. This book is required reading for family caretakers, clinicians, and others who simply wonder how to approach such afflictions.Ó Ð D. Robert Aiello, Ph.D
Writing from the vantage point of a spouse and mental health professional who has witnessed and cared for a loved one with AlzheimerÕs over the course of ten years, the author- a clinical psychiatrist- reveals the personal side of signs and symptoms of the disease beyond memory loss that make up the full developmental syndrome of AlzheimerÕs, including:
distortion of memory
erratic likes and dislikes
oppositionality
hoarding and miming behaviors
irritability and mood instability
personality changes
loss of cognitive resilience
judgment issues
paranoia
common psychological defenses against these progressive losses