Editorial Review:

Working from the intriguing hypothesis that Alzheimer's dementia is the result of a renegade protein-beta amyloid-Tanzi and others set out to find the gene responsible for its production. Decoding Darkness takes us deep into the minds and far-flung labs of many a prominent researcher, offering an intimate view of the high stakes of molecular genetics, the revolution that propels it, the obstacles that threaten to derail it, and the families whose lives are so dependent upon it. Tanzi and Parson ultimately reveal that Alzheimer's, like heart disease, may be effectively treated-even prevented.

Alzheimer's disease, a fatal, annihilating brain disorder, affects millions of men and women around the world. In the United States alone, perhaps one in five persons aged 75 or older suffers from it, though hundreds of thousands of younger people also bear the condition.

Despite its ubiquity, the malady was, until recently, considered a "backwater disease" to which little research attention (and funding) was paid. Advances in gene research, some spearheaded by neurologist Rudolph Tanzi, have led to a new understanding of the causes of Alzheimer's disease, and new possibilities for its cure. In this well-written account of that research, Tanzi and journalist-co-author Ann Parson examine the role of amyloid neuritic plaque, "mucked-up, misfolded protein that fibrilizes and forms rock-hard aggregates that the body can't get rid of." This plaque occurs in humans and certain other carnivorous species (including bears and dogs), and it appears to play a role in neurologic disorders of several kinds. Tanzi reports on recent studies in the use of cholesterol-reducing drugs in lessening levels of "brain dirt," as well as on research that suggests that cardiovascular exercise and a diet low in animal fats can benefit the brain as well as the body. He even cautiously hints that the conquest of Alzheimer's may occur in the very near future. For the time being, his book provides a thoughtful portrait of the illness and of the scholars and scientists who have devoted their lives to combating it. --Gregory McNamee

Customer Reviews:

Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0

Mr. Tanzi's exhaustive search:

I am lucky enough to be the son of a scientist who works with Mr. Tanzi, and I can tell you that you will not find many scientists who are as passionate about their work as Mr. Tanzi. His search for the cure for Alzheimers has been hard and tiring, but somehow Rudy came through. I am only a 14 year old, and I know I want to be a scientist when I grow up because of the work of both my father and Mr. Tanzi. They both teamed up from the beginning to create a better world for people devestated with these... more info

Fascinating Reading:

Tanzi and Parson tell a fascinating story of medical discovery with great excitement and clarity. The science was not sugar coated, but was very clearly explained and written in a very literary and often amusing manner. The descriptions of the human genome project in this book were in many ways superior to those that have appeared in books prepared specifically on the topic. My interest in this book was prompted not so much from an interest in Alzheimers disease but originally came from a recommendation... more info

A great achievement in science writing...:

An excelllent book! Science writing at it best with definitive information on the causes of Alzheimer's.

Well Crafted, Informative Read:

Ann Parson and Dr. Tanzi have put together an increadibly insightful, sensitive, and ultimately courageous portrait of the war that is being waged against this insiduous thief of conciousness. With crusaders such as Dr.Tanzi at the forefront of research to cure this disease, and gifted scribes such as Ann Parson, I feel as though I have a front row seat to an unfolding medical miracle. Kudos to Ann Parson for this superb, thought provoking work.

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