Alzheimer's : an engineer's view

Dementia is a cruel illness which affects people in different ways.

No two patients are alike and people 'cope' in different ways.

There is no right or wrong way to react to gradually losing a loved one.

This short book describes in a pragmatic way how Fred Walker, and healthcare professionals, dealt with his wife's diagnosis and treatment for Alzheimer's disease. Throughout her journey he tried to step into her world of dementia and use an engineer's perspective to develop solutions to cope with her increasing disabilities and changes in personality.

The clinical symptoms are described from the earliest signs, originally attributed to age, through to an eventual diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, and during on-going care.

As such the hope is that it will be a guide to anyone who not only wants to know the facts, but who also needs to know the human cost behind those facts. As a neurophysiologist, co-author Chris Pomfrett discusses the possible explanations for the symptoms from a medical perspective, which I hope will be beneficial to healthcare professionals enabling them to have a better understanding into not only the science behind Alzheimer's but also equipping them with the ability to appreciate the challenging situations encountered by many unpaid carers.

There is also a description of the current pathways and recommendations for diagnosis and management of Alzheimer's disease from the National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (NICE).