When Memory Fades - by Nathaniel Chin (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A geriatrician whose perspective on his specialty changed when his own father was diagnosed with dementia provides clear, calm questions to ask and tasks to tackle--as well as what not to worry about--from the first moments of concern.

When Nate Chin's father, also a doctor, began to feel his mind slipping, even a family as knowledgeable and capable as theirs was knocked back on its heels, disorganized, and unsure of what to do first. Chin, who in addition to his practice, became one of his father's primary caregivers until he died, determined to figure out the best way to move forward, for his own family, his patients, and now for everyone else.

WHEN MEMORY FADES is clear, smart, and cuts through the understandable impulse to grasp at ineffective treatments. From the first concerns that something might be wrong right through to the toughest stages of the disease, Chin gives granular information and frames topics that help readers figure out how to think about what's happening:

--How to Distinguish Normal Signs of Aging from Clinical Dementia
--How to Avoid Delaying Assessment
--Navigating the Medical Exam
--How to Plan & Run a Family Meeting
--Focus on the early stages/transition period to full disease can be determinative to both quality of patient life and interactions
--How to Set New Routines & Healthy Habits
--Day to Day Patient Care
--Community and Connection, and How to Maintain Them
--Dying of Alzheimer's is Just Dying

Review Quotes

"This book is written with compassion and vulnerability and provides a perspective of hope amid the reality. An essential work for individuals and their caregivers confronting memory issues." --Library Journal (starred)

"Geriatrician Chin debuts with a hopeful guide to navigating Alzheimer's and dementia as a patient or caregiver. ... Empathetic and practical, this is a windfall for families impacted by memory loss." --Publishers Weekly

"When Memory Fades is an essential guide for the Alzheimer's journey--blending medical expertise, practical caregiving wisdom, and the emotional truth of loving someone through cognitive change. Dr. Nathaniel Chin helps readers recognize early warning signs, prepare for an effective evaluation, and understand why symptoms extend beyond memory. The strength of this book is its usefulness: concrete strategies for communication, routines, safety planning, and caregiver resilience, alongside validation for the uncertainty families often carry in silence. Chin also explains the promise and limits of today's treatments and the vital role of clinical research--without hype, and with respect for individual goals. Most of all, this book reinforces a message we share at the Alzheimer's Association: no one should face Alzheimer's alone. When Memory Fades helps families move from fear to informed action, and from isolation to support." -Maria Carillo, Chief Science Officer & Medical Affairs Lead, Alzheimer's Association

"When Memory Fades is a wonderful book for individuals and caregivers to educate, support, demystify, and navigate the journey through Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Chin beautifully weaves together science, medicine, and his own experiences as an Alzheimer's specialist and caregiver for his father, to create this practical guide. The many lessons are clearly taught with a heartwarming and hopeful perspective. I will be recommending this book for my patients and their families." --Allan Levey MD, PhD, The Robert W. Woodruff Professor of Neurology at Emory University and Director, Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center

"When Memory Fades is the rare book about Alzheimer's disease that offers both practical advice for families struggling with the impact of this illness, and up to date clinical and research information on advances in the field. Dr. Nathaniel Chin approaches Alzheimer's disease from his many experiences as a son, a geriatric physician, a dementia specialist, a science communicator, and a clinical researcher. The result is a wonderful, comprehensive guide that is eminently readable, poignant, and informative." --Reisa Sperling, M.D., Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Director, Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital

"In When Memory Fades: What to Expect at Every Stage, from Early Signs to Full Support for Alzheimer's and Dementia, Dr. Chin skillfully bridges the gap between clinical knowledge and the lived experience of dementia--whether one is navigating the condition personally or supporting another individual. Drawing on his own experience as a family care partner, he brings empathy to his expertise, conveying complex medical information in a way that is both accessible and compassionate. This book is an outstanding resource for anyone seeking to better understand dementia and to live as well as possible with its challenges." --Teepa Snow, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA, Founder of Positive Approach to Care(R)

"Alzheimer's is a disease we all fear yet for which we are never prepared. Dr. Nathaniel Chin offers an intimate and empathic -- yet practical and essential -- guide to the decisions each of our families will face in our personal journeys." --George Vradenburg, UsAgainstAlzheimer's.

"With dementia, though memory fades, the mind remains, and it needs care. Dr. Nathaniel Chin's book gives both patient and caregiver a thorough, elegantly written and accessible blueprint for care that will let them live well in spite of dementia." --Jason Karlawish, author of The Problem of Alzheimer's: How Science, Culture and Politics Turned a Rare Disease into a Crisis and What We Can Do About It.

"Dr. Chin has produced a thoughtful, compassionate, and highly instructive how-to guide for families with concerns about a loved one's cognition. Weaving in personal stories that let the reader feel like they are in a private conversation with this experienced specialist. Dr. Chin bears his soul while providing practical, informative, and state-of-the-art information that is sure to be of immense value for the growing number of people dealing with the challenges of age-related diseases that cause dementia." -- Dr. Josh Grill, Director of the UC-Irvine ADRC

"Dr. Chin skillfully demonstrates his clinical expertise and lived experience in this timely, accessible roadmap for patients, families, and caregivers confronting Alzheimer's and related dementias. Having walked the journey of Alzheimer's with his father, this is essential reading during the critical early stages of the disease, when informed guidance matters most." --Charles J. Fuschillo, jr., President & CEO Alzheimer's Foundation of America

"Dr. Chin has produced a thoughtful, compassionate, and highly instructive how-to guide for families with concerns about a loved one's cognition. Weaving in personal stories that let the reader feel like they are in a private conversation with this experienced specialist. Dr. Chin bears his soul while providing practical, informative, and state-of-the-art information that is sure to be of immense value for the growing number of people dealing with the challenges of age-related diseases that cause dementia." --Joshua Grill, PhD, Professor and Director, Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California Irvine

"When Memory Fades is the kind of book clinicians wish they could place directly into every family's hands. With a rare blend of extraordinary clinical expertise and deep compassion--born not only from his leadership in the field but also his personal experience as a caregiver--Dr. Chin walks alongside patients and their families through the Alzheimer's journey, bringing clarity and steadiness to the maze of decisions families face. Dr. Chin shines a light on the humanity at the center of Alzheimer's care, offering guidance that is both clinically precise and profoundly reassuring. When Memory Fades is an indispensable companion that empowers families and professionals to navigate memory loss with wisdom, hope, and heart." --Michelle Braun, PhD, ABPP-CN, Author of High-Octane Brain: 5 Science-Based Steps to Sharpen Your Memory and Reduce Your Risk of Alzheimer's, and Founder of High-Octane Brain Fitness(R)

"When Memory Fades is a very personal and useful depiction of Dr. Chin's experience with evaluating older persons and cognitive issues. He has done a superb job to make this complex topic very comprehensible and illuminating for not only patients, families, but clinicians, as well. This is a landmark for the field and a must read." --Ron Petersen, Professor of Neurology, Cora Kanow Professor of Alzheimer's Disease Research, Distinguished Mayo Clinic Investigator, Alzheimer's Disease Research Center Mayo Clinic Study of Aging, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine

"When Memory Fades stands out for its rare blend of scientific rigor and lived experience. Drawing on his work as an Alzheimer's doctor and his deeply personal role as a son who cared for a father with Alzheimer's, Dr. Nathaniel Chin offers succinct and compassionate guidance with a clear understanding for critical decisions families face and are often unprepared for. The result is an excellent roadmap for anyone living through a dementia diagnosis that helps patients and families move forward with honesty, clarity, and purpose." --Deborah Kan, Founder and executive editor, Being Patient

About the Author

NATHANIEL CHIN, MD, is the medical director and clinical core co-lead of the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention (WRAP), one of the world's largest and longest-running studies of individuals at risk for Alzheimer's disease. In addition to seeing patients in his clinic, Dr. Chin teaches medical students as an associate professor in the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Department of Medicine. He serves on the boards of the Alzheimer's Association (AA) and the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) and hosts the podcast, Dementia Matters.