Dr. Doraiswamy, with social worker Lisa Gwyther, who directs Duke’s Alzheimer’s family support program, and science writer Tina Adler, intend for their book, “The Alzheimer’s Action Plan,” to fill a gap. “It’s essentially a book about the early stage of the disease,” Dr. Doraiswamy said.
These authors dispute the notion that since there’s no cure for Alzheimer’s, diagnosis and treatment are pointless. “Studies suggest that people who start treatment early usually remain better off than those who start treatment months later,” they write. So they’ve mapped out strategies for seeking a diagnosis and maximizing the usefulness of a doctor’s appointment. They explain conditions that can masquerade as Alzheimer’s but aren’t. They offer very specific advice on medications, not only Alzheimer’s drugs but antidepressants and antipsychotics.