 | Understanding Parkinson's Disease: A Personal and Professional View Richard B. Rosenbaum M.D. $45.95  |
A neurologist whose father suffers from Parkinson's provides a layreader-friendly explanation of the disease, its history, development, treatment and modern advances that may ultimately lead to a cure. Rosenbaum's professional view is as a clinical neurologist who regularly cares for patients with the progressive neurological deterioration caused by Parkinson's Disease. His personal experience with his father, a retired surgeon, further powers his quest to give patients, family members and caregivers what they need to know. Topics covered include challenges of correct diagnosis, variations in prognosis, investigations of causes including exciting progress in possible toxins and genetic factors that play a role, and different treatment options including natural remedies as well as new drugs for symptom treatment. Rosenbaum also explains research efforts to find a preventative drug, modern surgical options and hopes for stem cell or gene therapy.
In this work, Rosenbaum blends historical and medical research with illustrations from the patients in his professional life, and from his dad on the homefront, to give us a clear and comprehensive understanding of Parkinson's. He also includes writing from and attention to well-known individuals affected by this disorder—among them actor Michael J. Fox.
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January 2nd, 2010 at 12:00 am
It fills an empty niche
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The title could not be more perfect. Dr. Rosenbaum is both neurologist and concerned son. This book fills an empty niche. For the average person, without a scientific background, the science of this neurological disease, basic epidemiology, and statistics are explained clearly. I have been a nurse, but I now need this information as a person with Parkinson’s. I have purchased and read four books on Parkinson’s Disease; each reflected my concerns at the time. Beyond the facts and figures he expresses the emotions and the widening circle of impact that a diagnosis of Parkinson’s sets off. We should all have such a caring and empathetic person in our lives. This carried to his imparting of information – not just cold facts, as in: here are the four cardinal symptoms, but showing his realization and caring about what these and other symptoms actually do to a person’s once-”normal” life.
Dr. Rosenbaum provides us an educational reminder about questioning what we are told, read and see; to not accept everything without investigating the difference between what is known and what is believed and how this was arrived at. He explains the difficulties that factor in the making of a correct diagnosis. I believe he lived up to fulfilling the title of his book.
January 5th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Basic Science from the Heart
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
When was the last time you read a book about basic science that you couldn’t put down? I have a close friend who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in his early 60’s. I learned alot about the disease through him. I even attended seminars at Stanford University and read articles in renowned medical journals about Parkinson’s disease. I had no background in basic science so I didn’t know what I didn’t know . . . until I read Dr. Rosenbaum’s book, Understanding Parkinson’s Disease. He is the consummate teacher in his ability to help me, a non-scientist, understand the basic science and history of discovery relating to Parkinson’s disease. The title is apt. But what really drew me in were his poignant vignettes told as a son describing his father’s struggle with this disease. No question that Dr. Rosenbaum is a dedicated neurologist but that he is also a caring and concerned son bridges his readers in a unique way. The last chapter of the book entitled “The Story of Parkinson’s Disease Is Not Finished” suggests hopeful development of treatment of the disease in the future. In the meanwhile, the story of this disease could not be better told.