This article appeared in the March/April 2021 issue of Discover as "What We're Reading." Support our science journalism by becoming a subscriber.
By Han Yu
Ever since my grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, I’ve watched in horror as it has gradually robbed him of his memory and cognitive skills. As Yu notes, I’m far from alone — in the U.S., someone new develops the disease every 65 seconds. Currently, there is still no known prevention, treatment or cure.
In Mind Thief, Yu unravels the thorny history behind our efforts to understand the mystifying ailment. She starts at the turn of the 19th century in Germany’s so-called Castle of the Insane, where Alois Alzheimer first met an important patient: a 50-something woman named Auguste Deter with a mysterious condition. After her death, Alzheimer found decaying neurons and tiny plaques in her brain. From there, Yu guides readers through reams of ...
