Leading gerontologist Peter J. Whitehouse presents his provocative approach to aging and senility, calling for a relabeling of age-associated cognitive challenges. In a call to arms to reevaluate the way we think about and deal with Alzheimer’s disease, he claims that the current view of Alzheimer’s as a virtual death sentence obscures the potential for vitality and wisdom that still exists in the graying years.

The Alzheimer’s label too often generates fear, paranoia, and anxiety. By taking a closer look at what Alzheimer’s is and isn’t, Whitehouse offers hope to families as well as to those who suffer from a decline in their cognitive abilities. Using examples from his own practice and from around the world, he presents a new approach to the treatment of brain aging and provides practical advice for getting the best level of care.