Dementia is an umbrella term for disorders involving memory loss and altered decision-making, such as Alzheimer’s disease. These incurable conditions affect an estimated 5 million Americans aged 65 and up, and twice as many women as men.
Although these disorders are more common in older people, they aren’t a normal part of aging: People with Alzheimer’s struggle severely with communication, attention, and other basic cognitive skills, impairing their ability to function normally. Patients typically need assistance from a caregiver, especially as their disease progresses. Often, this responsibility falls on their partner and/or family members, who experience their own emotional challenges as they watch someone they love lose their memories.
Coping with dementia can be difficult, but arming yourself with up-to-date information can help. And there’s reason to have hope: Research now indicates that certain lifestyle changes can help reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
Below, we’ve rounded up 12 books about dementia disorders — from essential caretaking guidebooks, to prevention overviews, to moving memoirs — that will deepen your understanding. Whether you were just diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, have spent years caring for a loved one with dementia, or simply want to learn more about these complex diseases, these essential reads can help.