Aging With Grace: What the Nun Study Teaches Us About Leading Longer, Healthier, and More Meaningful Lives
by David Snowdonbook data
84 ratings,
4.18
average rating, 26 reviews
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published
April 30th 2002
(first published 2001)
by Bantam
binding
Paperback, 256 pages
isbn
0553380923
(isbn13: 9780553380927)
description
In 1986 Dr. David Snowdon, one of the world’s leading experts on Alzheimer’s disease, embarked on a revolutionary scientific study that would forever ...more
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avg 4.18
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Read in February, 2009
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Read in January, 2002
I can't remember when I read this book...
I found it a fascinating telling about a scientific study. The woman in this study are gracious and thoughtful about the work, the PI of the study is thoughtful and respectful.
One of my elderly aunts is a nun, and this book also provided me greater insight into her life. She said she knows many of the sisters enrolled in this work.
I found it a fascinating telling about a scientific study. The woman in this study are gracious and thoughtful about the work, the PI of the study is thoughtful and respectful.
One of my elderly aunts is a nun, and this book also provided me greater insight into her life. She said she knows many of the sisters enrolled in this work.
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Read in March, 2009
The Nun Study recently returned to the U of M and I was interested to learn more about this epidemiological study which has enrolled hundreds of nuns from a particular order, and has led to numerous studies and findings about aging, Alzheimer's, the role of diet and exercise in aging, etc. It's a fascinating story of how the study was launched and has evolved over time. This isn't a particularly well-written book, and the author comes across as narcissistic at times, but I so enjoyed getting to ...more
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For anyone interested in Alzheimer's research, this is a fascinating book. The author stumbled upon an amazing test group for research in a group of nuns who lived virtually their entire lives with similar controls and detailed documentation. While slow for a novel lover, this does not contain contrived facts and action sequences, this book introduces facts about Alzheimer's disease in a way that is understandable, yet basically scientific. I learned many things and marvelled at the path travell...more
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Read in January, 2005
Snowdon takes some scientific research and writes for the non-experts. He studied a group of nuns who all joined the convent very young, and teaches about the things that keep the brain young. By the end, you feel like you actually know the sisters.
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Read in January, 2009
Brilliant. Over ten years, Snowdon researched aged nuns and made some interesting discoveries about depression and Alzheimers. My mother used this book, I believe, for the class she taught on positive psychology.
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This is a really interesting book about how our brains are affected by Alzeheimers. And although it is about a study, the lives of the nuns are still respected.
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Read in February, 2009
It was great to read about the possibility of having tangles and plaque and showing signs of Alzheimer's. I agree with Snowdon that living in a community definitely has an effect on their health. No retirement for me.
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Read in January, 2007
Very interesting non-fiction study and results about memory. I really enjoyed it.
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Read in January, 2000
David Snowden worked with Catholic nuns for years. All nuns in this cloister donated their brains to science and their brains were autopsied after their death. Many of the nuns were teachers in various grades of school. Alzheimers clearly showed up in many of the nuns' brains. Some of these were of the teachers who taught. The amazing thing is that many nuns who showed Alzheimers showed no symptoms whatsoever and taught until the end of their days. This book reads like a short novel and is inspi...more
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recommends it for:
anyone who is aging (which is everyone)
This is a great book outlining Snowdon's groundbreaking research on Alzheimer's Disease. The results of the study have been widely published for a number of years. This book details, for the lay person, the procedures of the study and some of the results. Reading the personal accounts and experiences of the research participants (Nuns) and the researchers themselves gives an enlightening look at how research is conducted and what we can learn from those living with Alzheimer's.
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Read in September, 2008
The School Sisters of Notre Dame are the group of nuns that participate in the Alzheimer's research of the book and are also the group of women that I work for as a teacher. The book reinforced my personal experiences of the SSND as being very dedicated, vibrant women. I am happy to have gained so much knowledge in regards to how life quality can change the aging process. I am now going to be very aware of the idea densities within my sentence structures!
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Read in February, 2009
I thought this was a good book. Snowdon is the keynote for our conference and so it's been interesting to read this as I am planning our conference and working with him. He does a good job of making research accessible and interesting. It's a quick read.
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Read in July, 2002
recommends it for:
anyone - but especially to parents of young children
This book is fascinating -- epidemiology as a mystery story. A great read! (And the insights it provides to keep dementia at bay, seem to be borne out in again and again in health news. There are things that one can do to prevent dementia, or to compensate for the inevitable. (I just wish I'd read it those concussions)
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Read in April, 2008
recommends it for:
everyone
This book weaves Snowdon's personal stories together with his case findings with the nun study. It is beautifully written and fascinating to follow his journey. I found that after reading this, I was determined to change my lifestyle in order to age gracefully. It is an easy and quick read.
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Having worked with Alzheimer's groups for many years, I found this study not only interesting but very, very enlightening. A must read for anyone interested in Alzheimer's. Especially good for family members who are worried about inheriting the disease.
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I found this book to be extremely interesting. I would not have picked it up on my own but was glad that I did thanks to a book club.
The anatomical explanations and personality correlations were very cool to read about.
The anatomical explanations and personality correlations were very cool to read about.
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Read in April, 2008
Excellent book. Gives lots of insight into the devastating disease of Alzheimer's. Snowdon's account of his experiences in the Nun Study teach about both the personal and medical influences of aging.
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Read in January, 2002
recommends it for:
Alzheimer Study
Fascinating study about a group of nuns who are monitored for Alzheimer over many years. As I get older, I worry about that disease. The surprise was how much I enjoyed reading the book.
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