Drug Therapy and Cognitive Disorders

Imagine what it would be like to look at the faces of your family members and friends and not know who they are. How would it feel to wake up each morning and find that another piece of your mind had slipped away? What would you do if you could not remember the simplest things, like whether you should get out of bed in the mornings or how to brush your hair?

Cognitive disorders like Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia are devastating, not only to the individuals who suffer from them, but to those individuals' families and friends as well. These disorders have become serious topics of research and discussion. Helping patients, caretakers, families, and friends understand what can be done to ease the symptoms of cognitive disorders is a very important part of care.

In this book, you will learn about cognitive disorders, what it is like to have them, and how they can be treated. Along the way, you will read about drugs that can help with symptoms like depression, panic, and hallucinations, all of which can be caused by cognitive disorders. In addition, you will learn about some alternative treatments for cognitive disorders and the possible risks and side effects that accompany different forms of treatment. Coauthored by someone who has experienced first-hand the early stages of Alzheimer's, this book will give you an up-close view of what can be done to help individuals with these often-devastating forms of mental illness.

Cathi I. White - Children's Literature

Do you know an elderly person who has trouble remembering things—maybe more than normal? Are they just forgetful from old age or is something else wrong? This brilliantly written book explores cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Travel through each chapter, written in "layman's" terms, to see what these disorders are, how drugs will help in treating the symptoms, as well as side effects and risks. A special feature has been added with some insight by Carolyn Hoard, one of the authors, who is experiencing MCI. She lovingly writes to her grandchildren at the beginning of each chapter telling them how she feels, some of her fears, and what she is experiencing with this disorder. The reader is well informed about cognitive disorders as well as having his heart touched by the tenderness shown by the author to her grandchildren. This educational book also includes other case studies, photographs, charts and a list of web sites for more information. Wonderfully written, this book is part of the "Psychiatric Disorders: Drugs and Psychology for the Mind and Body" series. 2004, Mason Crest Publishers, Ages 12 up.