As the essays in this volume show, conceptualizing dementia has always
been a complex process. With contributions from noted professionals in
psychiatry, neurology, molecular biology, sociology, history, ethics,
and health policy, Concepts of Alzheimer Disease looks at the ways in
which Alzheimer disease has been defined in various historical and
cultural contexts.
The book covers every major development in the field, from the first
case described by Alois Alzheimer in 1907 through groundbreaking work on
the genetics of the disease. Essays examine not only the prominent role
that biomedical and clinical researchers have played in defining
Alzheimer disease, but also the ways in which the perspectives of
patients, their caregivers, and the broader public have shaped concepts.