Research and Practice in Alzheimer's Disease: 1996
Editors: B. Vellas, J. Fitten, G. Frisoni Serdi Publisher, Paris, 1998.
Reviewed by: Barry J. Goldlist, MD, FRCPC, FACP
This book has been developed in a "yearbook" type format. However, instead of reviewing key articles in the literature, it is composed of invited articles. This of course makes it more like a textbook, with the inevitable problems of keeping it up to date. However, unlike a textbook, there is not a common theme or progression of content.
Nevertheless, this is a worthwhile text. Even if some of the articles in the first section (research in Alzheimer's disease) are not on the cutting edge, there is useful information for the practitioner in the field. The second section (practice in Alzheimer's disease) is particularly successful because of its international flavor. The articles are wide ranging, and include a good review of dementia with Lewy bodies, and interesting articles on how environmental manipulations might affect behavior in dementing disorders.
The editorial that introduces the text suggests that it would be of interest to a wide range of professionals involved with Alzheimer's disease, including primary care physicians. My guess is that its greatest appeal will be for clinicians heavily involved with dementia diagnosis and care, such as geriatricians, geriatric psychiatrists, and neurologists.
