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Saturday, July 25, 2015

On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer's



From childhood on I’ve always loved books about outer space, astronomy and the planets, so when I plucked a book titled On Pluto off the shelf of our local small town library, I was more than a little surprised to find it subtitled Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s. I knew I had to read it for you see my grandmother & my mother had this affliction.

Alzheimers is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S.A. and the only one of these diseases on the rise. More than 5 million Americans have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia. Chances are you already personally know of someone close or surely will someday.

Greg  O’Brien, an award-winning investigative reporter, has been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. One of those millions.  The short term memory, the basis of cognitive impairment, goes first but our long term memory and skill habits allow us to carry on.  Using that basis,  O’Brien decided to fight it by telling his own story of  using what remain of his lifelong journalistic skills.  O’Brien is a great storyteller. I’ve read lot of information about this disease in recent years but this book is different. It puts the reader   in the role of the “other” that is from the inside looking out.  This book is raw, painful, and soul searching. For my generation and others to follow,  it’s a roadmap to navigate the future. How to fight it. How to live with it and understand it.  And never give up….

 

8 comments:

Carla from The River said...

Hi,
I read Still Alice. I have not seen the movie.
I also have this awful disease in my family.
Carla

Sue said...

I find Alzheimers to be the cruelest of diseases. And from what I have read--it did not even exist before 1900. To go from none to so many suffering---we NEED to find the source of this scourge. What changed so dramatically since the turn of that century???????

Arkansas Patti said...

Alzheimers is so cruel but not only to the carrier. The family that must watch a loved one fade away suffers greatly also.
That sounds like a worthwhile book to look for. Thanks.

Red said...

Sounds like a great book. I will look for it.

Far Side of Fifty said...

I should read this one too, Oldtimers sucks. My Dad is showing more signs all the time:(

Valerie said...

He and I are fast heading to the 'forgetting' stage - thankfully not Alzheimers - so we might find this book interesting.

Gail Dixon said...

Oh, I think I need this book. My dad has early-onset Alzheimer's AND Parkinson's! Thank you for sharing.

troutbirder said...

Wonderful place. Thanks for sharing....:)