A comprehensive and revelatory book on one of today's most prevalent illnesses. In 2019, 5.8 million Americans had Alzheimer's, and more than half a million will die of Alzheimer's disease dementia. 16 million caregivers are responsible for paying as much as half of the $226 billion annual costs of their care. As more people live beyond their seventies and eighties, the number of patients will rise to an estimated 13.8 million by 2025. Part case studies, part meditation on the past, present and future of the disease, The Disease of the Century traces Alzheimer's disease from its discovery and tells the story of the biomedical breakthroughs that may allow it to finally be prevented and treated by medicine. While it is a scathing indictment of our health care system, it is also an argument for how we can live with dementia; the ways patients can reclaim their autonomy and redefine their sense of self, how families can support their loved ones, and the innovative reforms we can make as a society that would give caregivers and patients better quality of life. Rich in science, history, and characters, The Disease of the Century takes us inside cutting edge laboratories, patients' homes, caregivers' support groups, progressive assisted living facilities, and Jason Karlawish's own practice at the Penn Memory Center.