Dr. David Snowdon received his Ph.D. in epidemiology from the University of Minnesota and began the Nun Study
there in 1986. In 1990 he moved the Nun Study to the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging at the University of Kentucky
Medical Center, where he is also Professor of Neurology. One of the world's leading experts on Alzheimer's disease,
he has presented his findings at scientific conferences throughout North America and Europe and has been published
in such major medical journals as The Journal of the American Medical Association and The Journal of Gerontology.
Review
"What distinguishes this study is Snowdon's decision not to maintain the usual "objective" distance
from his subjects but rather to become emotionally involved with them. His commitment to treat them with 'care
and respect' is readily apparent in the many warm and sympathetic anecdotes and his expression of deeply felt grief
when any of the sisters becomes incapacitated by Alzheimer's or dies. ... [R]eaders will certainly appreciate the
early insights to be gleaned from Snowdon's human- (rather than statistic-) centered and compassionate story."
-- Publishers Weekly
"The Nun Study represents an absolutely unique American treasure and resource for all of us. The gems that
Dr. Snowdon and his colleagues have unearthed will not only change the way you look at yourself and the aging people
around you, they'll serve as catalysts for aging research for many years to come."
-- Ronald Petersen, Ph.D., M.D., Director of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Mayo Clinic
"There are lessons for all of us in this moving account of the School Sisters of Notre Dame and their commitment
to help us find the causes of Alzheimer's disease. I came away with a new respect for the power of faith as well
as the beauty and complexity of the human brain."
-- Virginia M. Bell, M.S.W., co-author of The Best Friends Approach to Alzheimer's Care
"David Snowdon leads us through the enthralling scientific, but also very personal journey that he has been
taking with the School Sisters of Notre Dame. The revelations along the way show us there is so much we can all
do to alter for the better how we age, and ultimately how long we live. It is a journey not to be missed!"
-- Thomas Perls M.D., M.P.H., Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
"A beautiful story. Families will find hope and support through the commitment of the sisters who have dedicated
their lives to helping others enjoy the gift of life as long as possible."
-- Sigmund Tomkalski, Executive Director, Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter, Alzheimer's Association
Submitted Books @ Random Publishing Web Site, September, 2001
Summary
In 1986 epidemiologist Dr. David Snowdon embarked on a revolutionary scientific study that would forever change
the way we view aging and old age. Dubbed the "Nun Study" because it involves a unique population of
678 Catholic sisters, this remarkable long-term research project remains today at the forefront of some of the
world's most significant research on aging.
This remarkable book by one of the world's leading experts on Alzheimer's disease combines fascinating high-tech
research on the brain with the heartfelt story of the aging nuns who are teaching scientists how we grow old --
and how we can do so with grace. The Nun Study's findings are already helping scientists unlock the secrets to
living a longer, healthier life.
Yet Aging With Grace is more than a groundbreaking health and hard-science book. It is the story of an altar boy
who grew up to be a scientist studying the effects of aging on nuns. It is the poignant and inspiring stories of
the nuns themselves. Ranging in age from 75 to 104, these remarkable women have allowed Dr. Snowdon access to their
medical and personal records -- and they have agreed to donate their brains upon death.
In Aging With Grace, we accompany Dr. Snowdon on his loving visits to nuns like Sister Clarissa, who at the age
of 90 drives around the convent in a motorized cart she calls her "Chevy" and knows as much about baseball
as any die-hard fan a third her age.
Then there is 104-year-old Sister Matthia, who until her death in 1998 knitted two pairs of mittens a day and prayed
every evening for each of the four thousand students she taught over the years. These bright, articulate, and altruistic
women have much to teach us about how faith, wisdom, and spirituality can influence the length and quality of our
lives.
We also follow Dr. Snowdon into the lab as he and his colleagues race to decode one of the most devastating diseases
known to humanity. We discover:
* Why high linguistic ability in early life seems to protect against Alzheimer's
* Which ordinary foods in the diet defend the brain against aging
* Why preventing strokes and depression is key to avoiding dementia
* Why it's never too late to start an exercise program
* What role heredity plays, and how lifestyle can increase our chances for a mentally vital old age
* How intangibles like community and faith help us age with grace
Both cutting-edge science and a personal prescription for hope, Aging With Grace shows how old age doesn't have
to mean an inevitable slide into illness and disability; rather, it can be a time of promise and productivity,
intellectual and spiritual vigor, and continuing freedom from disease.
