I read this ARC years ago but didn't get a chance to post a review at the time. While it's quite too late for that in terms of ARCs, I still wanted to relay the fact that I enjoyed this book. It provided clear explanations, in terms that were neither too obscure for the profane nor over-simplified either, and allowed me to understand better the science behind what, all in all, we still understand so poorly in general.

When I started to read this book, I have only a general few info about Alzheimer's. I find it a very useful and interesting to read. It was so full in history, discovery, research, intrigue, exaggeration from some researchers in this field, fraud in. scholarly publications that I could not give up on finishing it. I highly recommend it to everyone wanting to know more about this subject.

I come from a family with history of Alzheimer. My maternal grandfather had it, so did his aunt and other members of my family. On top of that, my wife's family has also history of the terrible disease. This made my reading of Han Yu's history of the disease and our idea of it quite momentous for my future life. An incredibly interesting, informative and valuable text on a disease I hope I won't have (but I think I will).

I'm incredibly fascinated by all things brain related. I'm always on the hunt for a good non-fiction book that will allow me to learn more about the brain. And, probably as a professional inclination, I'm particularly interested in brain diseases, so when I got the chance of picking up this book I couldn't wait to start learning. This was a fascinating and illuminating read, that I'd recommend to anyone who wants to learn more about Alzheimer's. If you're worried that medical non-fiction is too technical for you, fear not, this one was totally understandable and the author did a brilliant job in explaining the more complex topics.

This is a frightening disease, and the book traces its history from the man it got its name from and the different types. There is no conclusion or speculation about the cures, but detailed information on all the investigations is provided.
I felt like it worked as a combination for laypeople and people who have knowledge of science because of a few reasons. The narrative style and the focus on informing the reader felt like it targeted those who do not have a working knowledge of things. On the other hand, the details of the results and related information veer into the scientific range. Understanding what the doctors/researchers saw and what they did with it is important, but it also meant I could not read it at a stretch. I had to put it down between chapters but found it all fascinating.
I picked this book up thanks to a prior need to understand the disease, and I must admit I got the information I was hoping for. I now know when the larger scientific community started focussing on it and the current issues holding people back from a real solution.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

This was a very informative and enjoyable read. Yu does an excellent job working through the substantial, complex, and hugely contradictory field of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) research. The book provides a cursory summary of early observations which led to AD’s classification as a discrete disease, highlights in depth many of the pivotal studies in the 1990s to mid 2000s which provided our understanding of the basis of hereditary AD, and then spends most of the rest of the book discussing the various hypotheses put forward regarding both Alzheimer’s aetiology and pathogenesis (and a lot on treatments). I found the writing really good; there was enough detail to convey key scientific points (such as describing AD genetics, clinical trials, etc) whilst still carrying a “conversational” tone that will engage lay readers. Yu does a great job of explaining complex jargon, and I do believe it is readily understandable as a result (I do disclose, though, that I have a PhD in cell biology).

To me, the real take home message is how confusing, contradictory, and complex the field of AD is. Whilst most people probably have heard of beta-amyloid plaques and to a lesser extent some of the other AD pathologies (such as Tau), this book makes it clear that the field is wide open in terms of understanding how these pathologies link to AD and indeed, whether they are causative or a by-product of the disease itself. The book is very well researched and referenced (about 40-45% of the book is made up of references, notes and appendices).

My only slight criticism here is that it would have been nice to “litter” the book with anecdotes from real people - AD suffers, their carers, and really channel the emotion associated with the disease. There are glimmers of that here and there (especially at the end); but I think it could be better utilised in the book.

In summary, an excellent work; it brings to mind Siddhartha Mukherjee’s “Gene” or “The Emperor of All Maladies”. 4.5/5 stars.

This is one of those rare books that is jam-packed with a lot of dense, technical information that is simultaneously well-presented and baffling. It's well-presented in that by the end of it, I felt like I, someone who has not previously understood the mechanisms theorized to be behind Alzheimer's at all (other than, "uh, brain plaque? I guess?"), now feel like I have as much of a grasp on the subject as, well, some of these drug companies. It's baffling in that after reading this book I feel like I have as much of a grasp on the subject as some of these drug companies.

I went into <i>Mind Thief</i> expecting an historical overview of the way in which Alzheimer's has impacted people and the way in which that has impacted medicine and society. I got that, packed in a humane, sympathetic, and even funny way, and so much more. A huge portion of this book is a run down of all the ways people - predominantly pharmaceutical companies - have tried (and, spoilers, failed) to slow or stop Alzheimer's in the brain. Don't let that turn you off, though. It's fascinating, especially if you're someone who is into the nitty-gritty mechanisms of action behind disease. Do, however, be prepared to get very angry at all the drug companies and their trials that have skipped steps, waste money, and, worse still, wasted time. I'm not saying that any of these drugs would have evolved into something truly groundbreaking or even useful by now, but if companies like Pfizer and Eli Lilly hadn't faffed about with their protocols and changing goal posts, we might at least have a better idea of why so many things failed.

Han Yu takes a simultaneously human- and neuroscience-based look at Alzheimer's (not that those two things can really ever be separated), bringing humor and lightness to a deadly serious discussion without ever losing the sense of import or the accuracy of the science, and never forgetting the people that Alzheimer's affects.

This is a very informative book on Alzheimer's. It is one of the most in depth research based books on the subject that I have ever read. It is a must read on the subject, if you have ever had a family member or friend that has had this terrible disease.

You will come away with more knowledge than you ever thought possible, on Alzheimer's disease.

Make sure when reading this book to understand that this disease can happen at all ages.

Thank you Han Yu for taking the time and all the effort put forth in writing this wonderful book. Much appreciated!

D Price

I've always been curious about Alzheimer's disease, since a few of my family members developed the late onset variation of the disease. This book does a great job of explaining how Alzheimer's disease was discovered, the different hypothesises for what causes it, and the different drugs that have been trialed in hopes of finding a preventative, cure, or even a way to slow the progress of the disease. The book does a great job of explaining the science to someone who doesn't have a background in medicine, but didn't seem to over-simplify or avoid complex sounding medical words like "beta-amyloid".

If you're looking for practical advice for reducing risk of Alzheimer's, this isn't the best book for that, but if you want to understand the science behind the different advice you have heard this does a great job of explaining the science.

I haven't had too much exposure to individuals with dementia in my life, thankfully, but as time has passed, I am experiencing elderly relatives and neighbor's parents, all in their late 80's, early 90's, who are showing signs of mental deterioration. As we, and our society, are living longer, it seems nearly inevitable that many of us will develop some degree of it in time. My experience, though limited, seems to be that keeping one's mind healthy through mind games, reading, etc...seems to keep one's mind functioning much better than those who don't use it as much. Use or lose it seems to be the rule. Healthy lifestyle might help keep you fit, but exercise your minds, too! Good book, with lots of info, sadly, still no cure in sight.

Mind Thief: A Book Review
Bringing Clarity to the Confusion of Alzheimer’s Research

I lost my maternal grandmother to Alzheimers when I was young. (You might say she lost us first.)

In the decades since, I’ve tried to keep track developments in Alzheimer’s research. But that’s been kind of tough.
Aluminum is the cause? No, wait, that was an artifact of testing. A new drug? Years later, we’ve heard nothing more of it. There have been real breakthroughs in understanding the disease, but few substantive changes in its outlook.

So I was happy to find the book Mind Thief: The Story of Alzheimer’s by Han Yu.

This book explains where we are now and what all of those “breakthroughs” you’ve read about have ended up.

Han Yu teaches scientific and technical communication, and in this book she applies everything she knows to both understand and explain the state of Alzheimer’s research. She does a terrific job of explaining the different treatment approaches and how they theoretically should work. It’s an excellent example of science writing.

She also has harsh words for drug makers and researchers who have tried to “spin” the disappointing results of their studies. She writes, “I didn’t expert all the ambivalence, exaggeration, and even fraud in scholarly publications — publications that supposedly represent the integrity and rationality of modern science.”

In a truly ironic twist, you actually do want to forget much of what you have read about Alzheimer’s cures and treatments.

Here are a few of my take-aways from reading this book:

* While we have learned a lot, we still don’t really understand the causes of the disease — and that lack of understanding makes true progress harder.
* Things that seem promising in the laboratory almost always disappoint in human trials.

For now, keep eating well, exercising, sleeping well and challenging your mind — perhaps by reading great nonfiction books. (That last part was my own addition, not the author’s.)

If you know people afflicted by this disease (and don’t we all), and if you’ve been trying to follow developments from a distance, this book offers a fascinating tour into what’s been going on in Alzheimer’s research