The Public Health Challenges of Alzheimer's Disease and Cognitive Aging

Catalog description

Once upon a time, Alzheimer's disease was a rare disease, and then it became common, but soon thereafter, it turned into a crisis. What happened, and what do we need to do? This course will lead students to find the answers to this question, answers that are at the intersections of medicine, ethics, public policy, culture and health care. Topics covered include the histories of Alzheimer's disease and cognitive aging and their changing definitions, the concepts of cognition and function and how they are assessed, the contested science and practice of measuring the disease's prevalence and mortality, autonomy and capacity, risk and preventative factors for cognitive decline, the demography and economics of caregiving, and the creative public health initiatives and models of care that could reduce stigma, enhance cognition and maintain independence. Students will apply biostatistical and epidemiological methods to critique papers, close textual analysis to understand concepts and their shifting meanings, and writing to clearly and succinctly frame a problem, its costs and solutions. The course will include lectures, readings from the literature, group discussions and in-class exercises, and interviews with guest experts. Evaluation will be based on participation, presentations, written assignments, and exam results.