Alzheimer disease is challenging from many perspectives, including the moral perspective. This book's alternate title is "Why Care?", and its purpose is to help family members, health professionals, persons at risk, and students of ethics deal with the challenge of Alzheimer disease and the moral and ethical issues it creates.

The text focuses first on global moral challenges and then on specific aspects of care. The author uses case examples to show the realities of Alzheimer disease. The first three chapters look at the overall moral challenge that dementia presents for society. The chapters that follow give additional perspectives on problems associated with dementia, and the clarity with which topics are defined is especially helpful. Topics presented include the Fairhill guidelines for care of patients with dementia; presymptomatic testing; quality of life, treatment burdens, and the right to comfort; and assisted suicide and euthanasia. The author does not refrain from giving his opinion, yet he gives evidence to support his conclusions throughout.

In summary, this short book took a long time to read because it covers such weighty topics. Although some of the terms used may be appropriate for students of ethics, they may be unfamiliar to a broader audience. Because we don't really know who is at risk for Alzheimer disease, it is hard to assess how useful this text will be for them. It will probably be helpful to family members who, having immersed themselves in this disease and its effects on a daily basis, are now ready to reflect on it in a larger framework. It probably will not be as helpful to those who are becoming aware of what is happening to a loved one with Alzheimer disease. I recommend this book to those who work with patients with Alzheimer disease, and I recommend the first three chapters for a general audience. This book will allow everyone to reflect on how we choose to care for those who greatly need our clear thinking and compassion.