Lisa Genova, author of Still Alice, a heartbreaking book about a 50-year-old woman's sudden diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, graduated from Bates College with a degree in Biopsychology and a Ph.D. of Research in Neuroscience at Harvard University. He is a member of Dementia Advocacy, Support Network International and Dementia USA and is an online columnist for the National Alzheimer's Association. Genova's work with Alzheimer's patients has allowed her to understand the disorder and its effects not only on the patient, but also on his or her friends and family (Simon and Schuster, n.d.). Alzheimer's disease was first defined in 1906 by a German psychiatrist, Alois Alzheimer. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. It is a progressive brain disorder in which nerve cells in the brain gradually die. An estimated 26 million people worldwide are affected by Alzheimer's, and of these, approximately 4.5 million live in the United States. It is said to be the seventh leading cause of death in the United States and the fifth leading cause of death for people over the age of 65. 17% of women and 10% of men aged 55 and older can expect to develop Alzheimer's (apa.org, 2009). Researchers report that this disease is more prevalent in African Americans and Hispanics than in whites (Crandell, Crandell, & Zanden, 2009, p. 578). Lisa Genova's grandmother, who was 85, had shown signs of dementia for years; but she was an intelligent, independent woman who never complained and navigated her symptoms. His nine children and their spouses, as well as his grandchildren, attributed his mistakes to normal aging. Then they received the phone call from Lisa's grandmother... middle of paper... what the future holds. Important questions are raised about whether a person with Alzheimer's should be able to end their life rather than suffer a gradual decline. Another concern in the book is the responsibility that family members must sacrifice to care for the person with Alzheimer's. Genoa itself does not take a strong position; instead he lets the plot unfold while allowing readers to make a decision. Works Cited Crandell, Thomas. Crandell, Corinne Haines. Zanden, James W. Vander. (2009). Human development. New York: McGraw-Hill. Genoa, Lisa. (2007). Alice again. New York: Pocket Books. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2009/07/alzheimers-test.aspx. Retrieved from http://authors.simonandschuster.ca/Lisa-Genova/ 49420182/biografia. (nd) Retrieved from http://neuro.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/22/1/93.