Alzheimers & Aging
This Praxis Lab linked scientific understanding of Alzheimer’s disease with the social and public policy challenges faced by patients, families, and society. The course focused on knowledge, communication, inclusion, and dignity, examining the intersections of science, philosophy, emotion, ethics, and public policy. Students explored critical questions such as: What does it mean to be old in America? To be dependent? To have Alzheimer’s disease? And, how can this information be communicated to the public effectively?
By the end of the course, students developed a foundational scientific understanding of Alzheimer’s and delved into the medical, ethical, philosophical, and public policy issues surrounding it. The course emphasized the importance of incorporating social sciences and humanities into the conversation around disease, offering students the tools to address this complex, emerging issue.
Instructors:
Vicky Newman
Phillip Bimstein
Norman Foster, MD
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Wendy Hobson-Rohrer, MD
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This Praxis Lab explored the evolving landscape of death and dying in the modern world, examining the shift from infectious disease mortality to prolonged battles with degenerative illnesses like cancer, heart failure, and dementia.
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