Understanding Brain Aging and Dementia
Lawrence J. Whalley
Columbia University Press
The life course method compares an individual's long-life and late-life behaviors to gauge one's mental decay. Arguing the life course approach is the best and simplest model for tracking mental development, Lawrence J. Whalley unlocks the mysteries of brain functionality, illuminating the processes that affect the brain during aging, the causes behind these changes, and effective coping strategies. Whalley identifies the genetic factors that determine the pace of aging and the behaviors, starting in childhood, that influence how we age. Through vignettes, charts, and tables, he composes an accessible book for patients, family members, and caretakers struggling to make sense of a complex experience.

Lawrence J. Whalley is emeritus professor of mental health in the College of Medicine and Life Sciences at the University of Aberdeen and honorary professor of research at the University of the Highlands and Islands. He is the author of three books on brain aging and dementia, including The Aging Brain and Dementia.