The Brain Under Siege
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Solving the Mystery of Brain Disease,
and How Scientists are Following the Clues to a Cure |
Available Now |
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- NEW FROM DR. HOWARD L. WEINER - The cutting-edge science behind treatments for Alzheimer's, MS, Parkinson's, ALS,
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“If you’re dealing with the diagnosis—either for yourself or a loved one—of a neurologic condition, you’re likely feeling lost and overwhelmed. Look no further than this book, which not only breaks down what’s happening in the brain like a crime scene, but inspires hope for future treatments. It’s hard to get more complex than the human brain. In The Brain Under Siege, Howard L. Weiner has created a remarkable guide to neurologic diseases that we all can understand.”
—Ann Romney
1 in 6 people suffer from brain diseases like MS, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s.
Now, a Harvard neurologist takes you inside the brain under attack—and illuminates the path to a cure.
Multiple Sclerosis. Parkinson’s Disease. Alzheimer’s. ALS. Chances are, you know someone with a neurologic disease. Because the brain controls so much and is integral to our identity, the diseases that affect it are uniquely devastating both to patients and families.
And because it remains the most mysterious of our vital organs, treating the brain is an ongoing puzzle.
In The Brain Under Siege, Dr. Howard Weiner likens the brain to a crime scene, showing readers how “clues” point to causes and suggest paths to a cure. He takes readers on a journey through the latest technological advances, exploring which routes of investigation have gone cold and which have led to breakthroughs. Readers couldn’t ask for a better guide: A Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and Co-Director of the Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Dr. Weiner is an internationally renowned expert who pioneered immunotherapy in MS and is currently investigating an Alzheimer’s vaccine.
Informative and engaging, this groundbreaking book tells the story behind the science—painting a picture of the discoveries, setbacks, false leads, and victories on the front lines of brain research. Dr. Weiner also offers unique insight by exploring the experiences of the brave patients and families who make cutting-edge clinical trials possible.
Both a clear-eyed assessment of where the science stands and a gripping and poignant narrative of the dramatic pursuit for a cure, The Brain Under Siege is a must-read for patients, families, and anyone interested in unraveling the mysteries of the brain.
And because it remains the most mysterious of our vital organs, treating the brain is an ongoing puzzle.
In The Brain Under Siege, Dr. Howard Weiner likens the brain to a crime scene, showing readers how “clues” point to causes and suggest paths to a cure. He takes readers on a journey through the latest technological advances, exploring which routes of investigation have gone cold and which have led to breakthroughs. Readers couldn’t ask for a better guide: A Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and Co-Director of the Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Dr. Weiner is an internationally renowned expert who pioneered immunotherapy in MS and is currently investigating an Alzheimer’s vaccine.
Informative and engaging, this groundbreaking book tells the story behind the science—painting a picture of the discoveries, setbacks, false leads, and victories on the front lines of brain research. Dr. Weiner also offers unique insight by exploring the experiences of the brave patients and families who make cutting-edge clinical trials possible.
Both a clear-eyed assessment of where the science stands and a gripping and poignant narrative of the dramatic pursuit for a cure, The Brain Under Siege is a must-read for patients, families, and anyone interested in unraveling the mysteries of the brain.
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Howard L. Weiner is the Robert L. Kroc Professor of Neurology at the Harvard Medical School, Director and Founder of the Brigham MS Center and codirector of the Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. He has pioneered therapy in multiple sclerosis and has investigated disease mechanisms in brain diseases including MS, Alzheimer’s Disease, ALS, stroke and brain tumors. Dr. Weiner is a recipient of the John Dystel Prize for MS Research and received the NIH Director’s Transformative Research Award for his research in Alzheimer’s disease. He has pioneered the investigation of the mucosal immune system for the treatment of autoimmune and other diseases and is currently developing a nasal vaccine to treat Alzheimer’s disease and novel therapies for MS and ALS. The Harvard Medical School honored him with the establishment of the Howard L. Weiner Professorship of Neurologic Diseases. He is the author of the book Curing MS and the award-winning films, the documentary What is Life? The Movie and the feature length drama Abe& Phil’s Last Poker Game starring Martin Landau and Paul Sorvino.
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Praise for The Brain Under Siege
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“Howard Weiner has an amazing ability to synthesize complex medical and scientific concepts into something accessible and understandable. He has been on the front lines of brain disease research for over 40 years. In The Brain Under Siege he tells the story of five of the most devastating neurological diseases. He likens each disease to a crime scene and explains how the crime will ultimately be solved. Not only is this book highly informative, it’s also genuinely fun to read.”
—Stephen L. Hauser, MD, Robert A. Fishman Distinguished Professor of Neurology at the University of California, San Francisco, and director of the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences “Howard Weiner’s latest book, The Brain Under Siege, breaks down the complexities of brain health and disease in an accessible and enjoyable way. He opens up the world of drug development and how scientific discovery moves from the laboratory to clinical trials and ultimately to FDA approval.” --Al Sandrock, MD, PhD, head of research and development at Biogen “A fascinating read, The Brain Under Siege is educational, memorable, and perhaps most important, optimistic. Chances are you know someone affected by one of the common illnesses of the brain. The Brain Under Siege explains the science behind these diseases and the possible pathways to a cure. Dr. Howard L. Weiner has done an inspiring job of putting it all together. This is a valuable resource for both the medical community and the lay public.” --Merit Cudkowicz, MD, Julieanne Dorn Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, chief of neurology and director at Healey ALS Center, Massachusetts General Hospital |
“The stakes are high when the brain is in trouble. Howard L. Weiner chronicles the heroic efforts that have led to astounding progress in our ability to understand and treat the most essential and most fragile part of our humanity. For each brain disease explored, the analogy of a crime scene draws the reader into the detective work that goes on as researchers painstakingly track down suspected causes. The Brain Under Siege reveals the drama behind the science as doctors grapple with the most complicated structure in the universe.”
—Daniel Z. Lieberman, coauthor of Molecule of More “When it comes to complex medical issues, patients and their families are usually overwhelmed. The situation is complex even for scientists in the field. In Howard Weiner’s ambitious new book, The Brain Under Siege, this talented neurologist tackles brain disease and unravels its complexity—no easy feat for such a heavy subject. Likening the diseased brain to a crime scene, he takes the reader on the challenging journeys to find the elusive cures for these brain diseases. The book is a must read for anyone who wants to learn more about the scientific process and the urgent quest to treat—and then prevent—chronic brain diseases.” —Dennis J. Selkoe, MD, Vincent and Stella Coates Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and codirector of the Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital |