Main description:

The life course method compares an individual's long-life and late-life behaviors to gauge one's mental decay. Arguing the life course approach is the best and simplest model for tracking mental development, Lawrence J. Whalley unlocks the mysteries of brain functionality, illuminating the processes that affect the brain during aging, the causes behind these changes, and effective coping strategies. Whalley identifies the genetic factors that determine the pace of aging and the behaviors, starting in childhood, that influence how we age. Through vignettes, charts, and tables, he composes an accessible book for patients, family members, and caretakers struggling to make sense of a complex experience.

Contents:

List of Tables List of Illustrations Prologue Acknowledgments 1. Introduction 2. The Life Course Approach 3. The Well-Connected Brain 4. Aging, Evolution, and the Brain 5. The Aging Brain 6. The Biology of the Dementias 7. The Disconnected Mind 8. Emotional Aging 9. Dementia Syndromes 10. Dementia Risk Reduction, 1: Concepts, Reserve, and Early Life Opportunities 11. Dementia Risk Reduction, 2: Midlife Opportunities to Delay Dementia Onset 12. Dementia Risk Reduction, 3: Multidomain Approaches Epilogue Notes Index