Everyone dreads the words “ Alzheimer ’ s disease ” and “ dementia. ” And everyone who plans to live beyond age sixty-five is at some risk. Dr. Tiffany Chow, a prominent clinician and neuroscientist, offers knowledge and hope about an illness where there is, as yet, no cure. Aimed at patients and their families, The Memory Clinic is a comprehensive and ultimately reassuring work about the prevention and management of dementia.

Chow herself has a genetic legacy of Alzheimer ’ s disease, and she probes what she — and everyone else — can do to mitigate the impact of genetics through nutrition, exercise, and the concepts of cerebral reserve and brain plasticity. But it is in her front-line role managing the suffering caused by dementia and aiding caregivers where Chow ’ s compassionate voice is most inspiring. She emphasizes that both patients and caregivers need to feel safe, healthy, happy, and loved, and that meeting these basic needs daily takes skill at balancing life ’ s demands and is itself part of the protective shield against dementia ’ s effects.

Dr. Chow has written an accessible and fascinating guide through the mysteries of the brain ’ s deterioration in dementia. And as an empathetic physician who sees the person behind the symptoms, she offers practical strategies and comfort to both the afflicted and their caregivers.

Dr. Tiffany Chow, md is senior clinician-scientist at the Baycrest Rotman Research Institute and staff behavioural neurologist at The Sam and Ida Ross Memory Clinic. She also holds a dual appointment as assistant professor of neurology and geriatric psychiatry with the University of Toronto. She lives in Toronto.

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“Chow gives much useful advice, sprinkled throughout the book, to caregivers on how to provide compassionate care to a loved one with Alzheimer’s without becoming debilitated in the process.” - Literary Review of Canada

“In the end, what I thought would be a depressing and distressing journey through a much-feared disease turned out to be a life-affirming experience.” - Literary Review of Canada

“In turn a personal memoir, a collection of stories, a guide to prevention, an update on the latest research, and inspiration to weary caregivers.” - Winnipeg Free Press