The Case of the Frozen Addicts

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating presentation of the beginning of PD research
Review: A must for all Parkinson's Disease interested persons. A spellbinding tale depicting the beginning of modern science research into the causes of PD brought about by a very unlikely source. Hard to set aside once started. E. Jack Savely

Rating:
Summary: A must read if somebody in the family has this illness
Review: We are passing the book around the family now. The farther has PD. It has been great for us to gain an understanding of this mysterious illness.

Rating:
Summary: Compelling Reading
Review: When I bought this book I didn't know what to expect - I thought it would be similar in style to Oliver Sacks' "Awakenings" (i.e. a series of case histories). While I enjoyed Awakenings I would have to say that this book is much better - it truly reads like an un-put-downable thriller. The plot has all the ingredients for a great story - whatever we might think of heroin addiction and the criminal backgrounds of many of the frozen addicts, we can only feel sympathy for their terrible fate; Langston is a perspicacious but poorly funded neurologist who must fight the prejudices of the medical establishment (and ultimately the government and President) in order to develop an exciting but controversial new treatment that will give the addicts the only hope of release from their living hell. It's great stuff, made all the better of course because its based on truth. The book is also hugely informative and gives a sobering insight into the suffering endured by victims of Parkinsons and other neurodegenerative diseases; as well as offering hope in the form of future treatments. It is also superbly written. What more can I say?

Rating:
Summary: Compelling Reading
Review: When I bought this book I didn't know what to expect - I thought it would be similar in style to Oliver Sacks' "Awakenings" (i.e. a series of case histories). While I enjoyed Awakenings I would have to say that this book is much better - it truly reads like an un-put-downable thriller. The plot has all the ingredients for a great story - whatever we might think of heroin addiction and the criminal backgrounds of many of the frozen addicts, we can only feel sympathy for their terrible fate; Langston is a perspicacious but poorly funded neurologist who must fight the prejudices of the medical establishment (and ultimately the government and President) in order to develop an exciting but controversial new treatment that will give the addicts the only hope of release from their living hell. It's great stuff, made all the better of course because its based on truth. The book is also hugely informative and gives a sobering insight into the suffering endured by victims of Parkinsons and other neurodegenerative diseases; as well as offering hope in the form of future treatments. It is also superbly written. What more can I say?