The Alzheimer Conundrum

"Bringing together an anthropology of predictive medicine with a social study of science, and discussing recent biological discoveries as well as crucial public health problems, The Alzheimer Conundrum offers an insightful approach to the uncertain boundaries between aging and dementia, and brilliantly revisits the philosophical theme of the normal and pathological. Evocatively written, it is a major contribution to the understanding of one of the most perplexing and tragic issues of our time."--Didier Fassin, Institute for Advanced Study"The Alzheimer Conundrum is a must-read for all who are interested in how society and researchers frame the investigation of Alzheimer's disease and its effects on the aging global population. Lock has woven the individual threads of the scientific discussion and debate about dementia into a magnificent tapestry, prompting us to question our assumptions and perceptions. A compelling book."--Carol Brayne, University of Cambridge"The Alzheimer Conundrum is an eye-opening analysis of the tangles of diagnoses and treatments for Alzheimer's as they are experienced by clinicians, researchers, patients, and their families. Lock's nuanced exploration of the risk and uncertainty surrounding genetic knowledge about the brain brings the anthropology of medicine and science to an entirely new and unsurpassed level."--Emily Martin, author of Bipolar Expeditions"A riveting plunge into the genomics and neuroscientific epidemiology of this much-feared disease, Margaret Lock's The Alzheimer Conundrum convincingly shows why scientists are unlikely to untangle the causes of Alzheimer's disease anytime soon. This superb contribution to science studies exposes the existential dilemma we all confront: what will our globalized societies do to care for our rapidly aging populations?"--Rayna Rapp, New York University"This book is an excellent treatment of the intricacies of Alzheimer's disease--what it is, what it isn't, what it might be--and deals with its genetic, diagnostic, and predictive uncertainties. In thoroughly exploring the current state of Alzheimer's, the book sheds light on what makes most diseases complex."--Kenneth Weiss, Pennsylvania State University