{"product_id":"9781914487422-tangled-up","title":"Tangled Up","description":"\u003cmeta content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\" http-equiv=\"Content-Type\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe History and Science of Alzheimer's Disease\u003cbr\u003eA guide to the science and history of Alzheimer’s disease, by a British professor of dementia, written for the general reader. Highly commended.\u003cbr\u003eWhen Alzheimer’s disease enters a family, it rarely arrives with clarity. A forgotten appointment, a repeated story, a moment of sudden disorientation—small fractures that raise frightening questions about the future. \u003ci\u003eTangled Up: The History and Science of Alzheimer’s Disease\u003c\/i\u003e is Professor Michael Hornberger’s clear, readable guide to what is happening inside the brain, why it happens, and what today’s science can do about it.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eThis is not a vague “brain health” overview. It is a lay-friendly journey through the neuroscience of Alzheimer’s disease: how the earliest brain changes build silently over years; how they translate into the symptoms families see; and why the story of Alzheimer’s is, at its heart, a story of proteins — amyloid plaques and tau tangles — becoming dangerously tangled up.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eHornberger begins where the modern field began: early 20th-Century Germany, where Alois Alzheimer met Auguste Deter, the first patient whose symptoms were linked to distinctive microscopic changes in the brain. Alongside Alzheimer stands the overlooked Oskar Fischer — another pioneer whose discovery deserves to be remembered. Part history, part scientific detective story, these opening chapters bring human voices and hard evidence together.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eFrom there, \u003ci\u003eTangled Up\u003c\/i\u003e moves into what most of us fear most: memory. Hornberger explains how episodic memory works—how the brain encodes, stores, and retrieves the events of our lives — and why Alzheimer’s disease disrupts access to recent memories first. You’ll understand why a loved one may seem to be “living in the past,” why the same questions return again and again, and why some everyday forgetfulness is normal ageing, while other patterns deserve attention.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eOne of the book’s most valuable contributions is its spotlight on an under-recognised early warning sign: spatial disorientation. Getting lost in familiar places, confusion in one’s own home, and a shrinking “mental map” can appear early and carry real-world risk. \u003ci\u003eTangled Up\u003c\/i\u003e shows how the brain’s navigation systems work and why Alzheimer’s can unsettle them — offering a new lens for understanding behaviour and planning for safety without surrendering dignity.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eAt the core of the book is a deep dive into plaques and tangles. You’ll learn what amyloid and tau normally do, how they go awry, how they spread through the brain, and how modern biomarker technology is transforming diagnosis. Blood tests, spinal fluid measures, and advanced brain imaging are opening the door to earlier detection — sometimes even before symptoms are obvious — changing the future of prevention, clinical trials, and treatment.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eAnd treatments are no longer a distant promise. Hornberger explains the breakthroughs and the limitations: why many drug trials failed, why targeting a single pathway is difficult, and why some newer medications can slow progression in early stages. He demystifies the headlines around monoclonal antibodies and other emerging therapies, helping you follow the science with confidence instead of confusion.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eBecause fear often begins with family history, Tangled Up tackles genetics with reassurance and precision. You’ll learn the difference between rare inherited forms and common risk genes, and why genes are rarely destiny. Just as importantly, Hornberger explores lifestyle and environmental risk factors — what is modifiable, what is not, and what evidence suggests can meaningfully lower risk.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eFinally, the book broadens the public understanding of Alzheimer’s disease by covering rarer forms that don’t begin with memory loss: variants that present with changes in behaviour, vision, language, or movement. Recognising these patterns can be life-changing for patients and families searching for answers.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eTangled Up\u003c\/i\u003e, you will discover:\u003cbr\u003e \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe difference between Alzheimer’s disease and “dementia,” and why that distinction matters\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow memory and navigation work in the brain—and which changes are normal, and which are warning signs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhy amyloid and tau accumulate, how plaques and tangles form, and what they do to nerve cells\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow biomarkers and brain scans are reshaping early diagnosis and prevention\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhat the latest treatments can (and cannot) do, and why there is reason for cautious hope\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cbr\u003eFor readers seeking a comprehensive, trustworthy Alzheimer’s disease book — grounded in modern neuroscience yet written for general readers — \u003ci\u003eTangled Up\u003c\/i\u003e brings the history, the science, and the practical implications into one compelling narrative. Whether you are a family member, caregiver, clinician, advocate, or simply curious about the brain, you will finish better informed, better prepared, and less afraid.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eStart reading today and make sense of Alzheimer’s science.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReviews\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e‘A fascinating journey, both historically and scientifically\u003c\/b\u003e, from the first recorded case of Alzheimer’s disease through to modern therapies. This book is essential reading for anyone wanting to understand the real science behind what causes Alzheimer’s disease and how best to prevent it.’ – \u003ci\u003eJohn O’Brien, Professor of Old Age Psychiatry, University of Cambridge \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e‘This is such a clear and interesting book, \u003c\/b\u003ewhich takes away the fear from something to which we are all at risk. It is high time we knew more, and this is just the place to start.’ – \u003ci\u003eProfessor Tom Shakespeare, Professor of Disability Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e‘It expertly balances deep scientific insights with engaging storytelling.\u003c\/b\u003e As we enter an era of hope in our battle against this devastating disease, \u003ci\u003eTangled Up\u003c\/i\u003e is an invaluable resource for the curious reader, be they caregiver, scientist or medical professional.’ – \u003ci\u003eKaren Duff, Centre Director, UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eMichael Hornberger is Professor of Applied Dementia Research at the University of Southampton in the UK. He regularly meets patients with Alzheimer’s disease as part of his research aimed at improving diagnosis, disease tracking and symptom management. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eBuy the book and start reading\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rarewaves","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55171311010166,"sku":"9781914487422","price":25.69,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0092\/7504\/8033\/files\/orig_34652565.jpg?v=1749067751","url":"https:\/\/www.rarewaves.com\/products\/9781914487422-tangled-up","provider":"Rarewaves.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}