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على بعد جزيء من الجنون
مخ الإنسان هو الآلية الأشد تعقيدًا في تاريخ البشرية، لكنه ابتُلي أيضًا بكعب أخيل، أي نقطة ضعف: فالجزيئات التي تُحيينا قادرة أيضًا على تخريب عقولنا. يضم هذا الكتاب قصصًا مذهلة عن جزيئات جامحة وأمراض نشأت في أعقاب ذلك الجموح.
تعجز طالبة جامعية عن تذكُّر هل تناولت إفطارها أم لا، وبحلول العشاء تجد نفسها مقيَّدة إلى فراش بالمستشفى، مقتنعة بأنها تخوض معركة ضد الزومبي. ينوي رجلٌ التقدم لخطبة حبيبته فيدخل في نوبات غضب عنيفة وتجتاحه تشنجات بلغت من الشدة أن كاد يقضم لسانه. يسقط مزارعون مساكين صرعى الواحد تلو الآخر بولاية ساوث كارولاينا إثر وباء غامض من الخرف.
بمزيج ساحر من التاريخ والإثارة، تدعو بيسكن قُرَّاءها إلى لعب دور المحقق الطبي، متتبعة كل تشخيص بدءًا من المريض نفسه وصولًا إلى جهازه العصبي المعتل. ومن حينٍ لآخر، تلقي في الطريق بحكايات ممتعة لعلماء كانوا غرباء الأطوار حينًا، ومحل نقد وسخرية أحيانًا، لكنهم ظلوا متفانين حتى النهاية واكتشفوا الحقيقة الكامنة.
ولا تغض الطرف أبدًا عن الأثر الإنساني للمرض. «ألزهايمر» ليس مجرد فقد تدريجي لأحد الأحبة، بل يمكن أن يصير لعنة تتوارثها أجيال العائلة جيلًا بعد جيل. البروتينات الموجودة في كل خلية من أجسامنا ليست مجرد خيوط من الأكسجين والهيدروجين والنيتروجين والكربون؛ إنما هي اللبنات الأساسية لشخصياتنا وعلاقاتنا. «على بُعد جزيء من الجنون» هو رحلة لا تُنسى إلى أعمق أسرار دماغنا.
تعجز طالبة جامعية عن تذكُّر هل تناولت إفطارها أم لا، وبحلول العشاء تجد نفسها مقيَّدة إلى فراش بالمستشفى، مقتنعة بأنها تخوض معركة ضد الزومبي. ينوي رجلٌ التقدم لخطبة حبيبته فيدخل في نوبات غضب عنيفة وتجتاحه تشنجات بلغت من الشدة أن كاد يقضم لسانه. يسقط مزارعون مساكين صرعى الواحد تلو الآخر بولاية ساوث كارولاينا إثر وباء غامض من الخرف.
بمزيج ساحر من التاريخ والإثارة، تدعو بيسكن قُرَّاءها إلى لعب دور المحقق الطبي، متتبعة كل تشخيص بدءًا من المريض نفسه وصولًا إلى جهازه العصبي المعتل. ومن حينٍ لآخر، تلقي في الطريق بحكايات ممتعة لعلماء كانوا غرباء الأطوار حينًا، ومحل نقد وسخرية أحيانًا، لكنهم ظلوا متفانين حتى النهاية واكتشفوا الحقيقة الكامنة.
ولا تغض الطرف أبدًا عن الأثر الإنساني للمرض. «ألزهايمر» ليس مجرد فقد تدريجي لأحد الأحبة، بل يمكن أن يصير لعنة تتوارثها أجيال العائلة جيلًا بعد جيل. البروتينات الموجودة في كل خلية من أجسامنا ليست مجرد خيوط من الأكسجين والهيدروجين والنيتروجين والكربون؛ إنما هي اللبنات الأساسية لشخصياتنا وعلاقاتنا. «على بُعد جزيء من الجنون» هو رحلة لا تُنسى إلى أعمق أسرار دماغنا.
200 pages, Paperback
First published February 8, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 505 reviews
September 20, 2022
Review At one end of life, there are babies, they can't dress, toilet, feed or even move themselves. They can't do anything much at all, but we do everything for them and coo over them and smile and talk to them and we love them so much and doing everything for them is such a joy.
At the other end of life, for some, is dementia. They may regress to the same lack of abilities as babies. But we do not coo over them and doing everything for them is not a joy, but a chore and they do not bring us happiness. It's the same kind of work on a bigger scale, but there is no hope, no future to look forward to, so we are sad, maybe frustrated and in the end are likely to give up and give our loved ones to someone else to look after.
__________
The most joyous speciality in medicine has to be obstetrics. Not patients, but women who have come in for medical assistance for just a few hours and don't need healing, but helping to bring new life into the world and to leave a few hours or days later with a bundle of joy all wrapped up in love.
Conversely, the author has, to me, just about the most depressing speciality. She is an Alzheimer's doctor:
__________
My uncle who was (in his speciality) a world-famous doctor got Alzheimer's early. When he started to wander and get aggressive he knew what was happening to him and tried to kill himself. His wife, who had been a nurse, also knew what was going on and she, possibly because of her religious Catholic upbringing, couldn't bear that and time after time frustrated him, eventually putting him into a home.
Because he had been so well thought of in his profession, the home did everything they could for his comfort and eventually he was past trying to kill himself before the awful ultimate end of total baby-like dependence came. Soon he was past even recognising his sons, but they thought sometimes they could see him in his eyes knowing they were there. Then he died.
At the other end of life, for some, is dementia. They may regress to the same lack of abilities as babies. But we do not coo over them and doing everything for them is not a joy, but a chore and they do not bring us happiness. It's the same kind of work on a bigger scale, but there is no hope, no future to look forward to, so we are sad, maybe frustrated and in the end are likely to give up and give our loved ones to someone else to look after.
__________
The most joyous speciality in medicine has to be obstetrics. Not patients, but women who have come in for medical assistance for just a few hours and don't need healing, but helping to bring new life into the world and to leave a few hours or days later with a bundle of joy all wrapped up in love.
Conversely, the author has, to me, just about the most depressing speciality. She is an Alzheimer's doctor:
I became a dementia doctor, at once horrified and and fascinated by the way Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia can change a person's personality. Today, I spend most days watching my patients slowly disappear as their husbands, wives, children and sometimes parents look on in anguish.To me it would be soul-destroying to preside over the treatment of a person with Alzheimer's knowing that no matter what the short-term effect of it is, in the long-term the treatment is doomed to failure. It must be so hard for children to look after their parents with it. To watch the parent you know regress to babyhood, not a cooing, smiling one, parent to child, but one with no future, just continual decline.
I am, in many ways, a guide on the path to nothingness.
__________
My uncle who was (in his speciality) a world-famous doctor got Alzheimer's early. When he started to wander and get aggressive he knew what was happening to him and tried to kill himself. His wife, who had been a nurse, also knew what was going on and she, possibly because of her religious Catholic upbringing, couldn't bear that and time after time frustrated him, eventually putting him into a home.
Because he had been so well thought of in his profession, the home did everything they could for his comfort and eventually he was past trying to kill himself before the awful ultimate end of total baby-like dependence came. Soon he was past even recognising his sons, but they thought sometimes they could see him in his eyes knowing they were there. Then he died.
February 5, 2022
Captivating in the most nerve-wracking way possible, A Molecule Away from Madness leads the reader on a journey showcasing the havoc that the tiniest culprits can wreak on the biology that most fundamentally makes us who we are. Covering diseases that remain terrifyingly deadly today like Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome to vitamin deficiencies we've since identified and learned how to treat, every chapter brings new revelations of the power of a single molecule told in personal anecdotes that truly drive home the reality of these microscopic threats.
Dr. Peskin starts out with DNA mutations - in fact, the largest of all molecules she will cover in this book. The first story she covers is one of a woman who has complete control over her body's finest movements as an aerialist and expert practitioner of parkour, but when genetic testing reveals that she will succumb to the same Huntington's-riddled fate as her mother, she knows her fate is indelibly sealed. But what is most interesting about this chapter is the underlying science used to isolate the gene sequence responsible for Huntington's, finally succeeding in 1993, still several years before the entire genome was mapped. But even once that was identified, it became clear that this malformation was only the proximal cause of disease; it was the protein synthesis that the gene directed the body to undertake that resulted in the symptoms of disease. Only armed with this understanding was an effective treatment developed for this devastating disease in 2018.
The next chapter gets into Alzheimer's with a compelling snapshot of a subset of the disease known in Colombia as la bobera. In this case, genetic sequencing was able to show that those who were afflicted by this early-onset form of the disease suffered from a mutation that incorrectly designs proteins that break up molecules in a manner that results in a toxic buildup of plaque in the organs. Once this was discovered, research into treatment was still stymied by violence and a heaping dose of prejudice and stereotype about the influence of the drug economy in Colombia. A few years later, on-site research was finally underway, with results set to release later this year. The fascinating lesson here is the value that came from the study of this one small subset of disease: "that the cure for the common case of Alzheimer's disease will be found not in the general population but rather on the molecular fringe."
Part two is a wild ride of protein-induced hysteria, from those mimic the effects of PCP and make people think they are surrounded by zombies to those that bind to the same receptors of strychnine, a poison used by a serial killer in the 1880s to induce particularly cruel deaths in women. Here we learn that PCP was originally marketed as an anesthetic in the 1960s before its incredibly dangerous hallucinogenic effects were fully understood. The idea that our immune systems can, with only the best intention, produce massive quantities of proteins that act in the same manner as PCP or strychnine makes for one wild and surreal ride as we hear the stories of a young college girl who believes she is living in the world of The Walking Dead to a man who believes a spider outside his car window was his once soon-to-be wife and that he himself was President of the United States.
Of course no discussion of errant proteins would be complete without a tale of prions and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome. Focusing on the related spongiform encephalopathy of kuru in Papua New Guinea, Dr. Peskin shows us the importance of anthropology in solving some of medicine's toughest mysteries as well. Without someone who could take the time to understand the cultural practices of the Fore people, this disease would have continued to ravage their people for generations to come. Equally fascinating in this chapter is the work it took to convince the medical community that proteins on their own could be infectious and the way that they unfold can distort the shape of those around them despite not being able to replicate on their own. While there is still no treatment for Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome, this chapter does highlight some promising research as well.
The final part focuses on small molecules, those orders of magnitude smaller than the ones discussed elsewhere in this book. From mercury poisoning to vitamin deficiencies, these small surpluses and deficiencies in our biochemistry can have far-reaching effects. The experiments described in this part are absolutely off-the-charts unethical, and throw a spotlight on the absurd lengths to which scientists have sometimes had to go to validate even their clearest results when they contradict conventional wisdom. The exploitation of prisoners and children in orphanages and people institutionalized in asylums in this section gave me a whole new appreciation for the headaches of Institutional Review Boards.
Whether you come to this book intrigued by anecdotes of madness, mentions of zombies and cannibalism and serial killers, or the marvels of science, you are sure to not be disappointed. It is a quick, engrossing, and clear read that puts the smallest components of our body into new perspective. Highly recommend, and very grateful to W.W. Norton and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for the review.
Dr. Peskin starts out with DNA mutations - in fact, the largest of all molecules she will cover in this book. The first story she covers is one of a woman who has complete control over her body's finest movements as an aerialist and expert practitioner of parkour, but when genetic testing reveals that she will succumb to the same Huntington's-riddled fate as her mother, she knows her fate is indelibly sealed. But what is most interesting about this chapter is the underlying science used to isolate the gene sequence responsible for Huntington's, finally succeeding in 1993, still several years before the entire genome was mapped. But even once that was identified, it became clear that this malformation was only the proximal cause of disease; it was the protein synthesis that the gene directed the body to undertake that resulted in the symptoms of disease. Only armed with this understanding was an effective treatment developed for this devastating disease in 2018.
The next chapter gets into Alzheimer's with a compelling snapshot of a subset of the disease known in Colombia as la bobera. In this case, genetic sequencing was able to show that those who were afflicted by this early-onset form of the disease suffered from a mutation that incorrectly designs proteins that break up molecules in a manner that results in a toxic buildup of plaque in the organs. Once this was discovered, research into treatment was still stymied by violence and a heaping dose of prejudice and stereotype about the influence of the drug economy in Colombia. A few years later, on-site research was finally underway, with results set to release later this year. The fascinating lesson here is the value that came from the study of this one small subset of disease: "that the cure for the common case of Alzheimer's disease will be found not in the general population but rather on the molecular fringe."
Part two is a wild ride of protein-induced hysteria, from those mimic the effects of PCP and make people think they are surrounded by zombies to those that bind to the same receptors of strychnine, a poison used by a serial killer in the 1880s to induce particularly cruel deaths in women. Here we learn that PCP was originally marketed as an anesthetic in the 1960s before its incredibly dangerous hallucinogenic effects were fully understood. The idea that our immune systems can, with only the best intention, produce massive quantities of proteins that act in the same manner as PCP or strychnine makes for one wild and surreal ride as we hear the stories of a young college girl who believes she is living in the world of The Walking Dead to a man who believes a spider outside his car window was his once soon-to-be wife and that he himself was President of the United States.
Of course no discussion of errant proteins would be complete without a tale of prions and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome. Focusing on the related spongiform encephalopathy of kuru in Papua New Guinea, Dr. Peskin shows us the importance of anthropology in solving some of medicine's toughest mysteries as well. Without someone who could take the time to understand the cultural practices of the Fore people, this disease would have continued to ravage their people for generations to come. Equally fascinating in this chapter is the work it took to convince the medical community that proteins on their own could be infectious and the way that they unfold can distort the shape of those around them despite not being able to replicate on their own. While there is still no treatment for Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome, this chapter does highlight some promising research as well.
The final part focuses on small molecules, those orders of magnitude smaller than the ones discussed elsewhere in this book. From mercury poisoning to vitamin deficiencies, these small surpluses and deficiencies in our biochemistry can have far-reaching effects. The experiments described in this part are absolutely off-the-charts unethical, and throw a spotlight on the absurd lengths to which scientists have sometimes had to go to validate even their clearest results when they contradict conventional wisdom. The exploitation of prisoners and children in orphanages and people institutionalized in asylums in this section gave me a whole new appreciation for the headaches of Institutional Review Boards.
Whether you come to this book intrigued by anecdotes of madness, mentions of zombies and cannibalism and serial killers, or the marvels of science, you are sure to not be disappointed. It is a quick, engrossing, and clear read that puts the smallest components of our body into new perspective. Highly recommend, and very grateful to W.W. Norton and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for the review.
July 23, 2023
When it comes to complexity, the brain wins. This machine-like mechanism or molecularly complex building blocks make up what we are today. Sara Manning Peskin is like an attending and we are residents learning how to become capable diagnosticians with her candid case accounts. Many diseases are passed on generationally---in a clandestine and rather silent way. Dr. Peskin teaches us what to look for atomically to find truth (veritas) via dissection.
“For families who unwittingly pass on these dangerous mutations, DNA can be the source of centuries-long torture, sewing the threads of catastrophe through vast networks of relatives.”
—Sara Manning Peskin
Generationally when we deny and reclassify the madness we prevent the correction that may plague future generations and foster salad speak. Truth is unto that stillborn that no one wants to discuss or claim—like rape, theft and spousal abuse. Caring, light and love are the sweet smelling cures imparted by a source beyond definition. Nature and evolution. Read.
“For families who unwittingly pass on these dangerous mutations, DNA can be the source of centuries-long torture, sewing the threads of catastrophe through vast networks of relatives.”
—Sara Manning Peskin
Generationally when we deny and reclassify the madness we prevent the correction that may plague future generations and foster salad speak. Truth is unto that stillborn that no one wants to discuss or claim—like rape, theft and spousal abuse. Caring, light and love are the sweet smelling cures imparted by a source beyond definition. Nature and evolution. Read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2025
هو عمل عن أهم الامراض العصبية مكتوب بلغة بعيدا عن تلك العلمية بمصطلحاتها الصعبة للفهم.
الكتاب مقسم الى ثلاث أقسام : الجينات و تحورها و البروتينات المهاجمة و التغذية الفقيرة كأسباب لهذه الاعتلات العصبية التي تتراوح بين الزهايمر و الخرف و البلاجرا و أمراض أخرى في رحلة تاريخية للأبحات و العلماء الذين اشتغلوا عليها و من خلال دراسات حالات عانت منها.
الكتاب مقسم الى ثلاث أقسام : الجينات و تحورها و البروتينات المهاجمة و التغذية الفقيرة كأسباب لهذه الاعتلات العصبية التي تتراوح بين الزهايمر و الخرف و البلاجرا و أمراض أخرى في رحلة تاريخية للأبحات و العلماء الذين اشتغلوا عليها و من خلال دراسات حالات عانت منها.
December 30, 2022
Преживяемостта при болестта на Алцхаймер не се е променила съществено от първото описание на заболяването преди повече от 100 години. Пациентите с хорея на Хънтингтън продължават да имат неконтролируеми движения. И днес болестта на Кройцфелд-Якоб е универсално смъртоносна. Нервната ни система може да бъде уязвена от ДНК мутации, разнообразни молекули, хранителни дефицити и неправилно нагънати протеини. Ние сме буквално "на молекула от лудостта", както се твърди в новата книга с кратки пациентски истории за неврологични заболявания.
Ето нещата, които научих:
-В днешни дни отравянето с живак е изключително рядко в развитите страни. Повечето случаи се дължат на прекалена консумация на риба и морски дарове. Парадоксално, тъй като тези храни са сравнително скъпи, пациенти се оказват най-вече богати (worried well) хора. Певецът Роби Уилямс, актьорите Джеръми Пивън и Жанел Моне са разказвали за симптомите си, причинени от пескатарианска диета.
-Един от най-рядко използваните наркотици фенциклидин (ангелски прах) е разработен като лекарство с търговско име Sernyl, което бързо е спряно от употреба заради страничните си ефекти - халюцинации с дисоциация между емоциите и перцепцията.
-Около половината случаи на редкия анти-NMDA рецепторен енцефалит (основа на книгата по истински случай Brain on fire) са свързани с тумор на яйчника, който образува антителата.
-Терминът витамин е въведен от биохимика Казимир Функ, който първи изолира витамин В1 (тиамин)
В книгата има грабващи пациентски истории за болестта на Пик (фронтотемпорална деменция), пелагра, енцефалопатия на Корсаков и изчезналото вече заболяване куру, причинено от приони и предаващо се чрез ядене на човешки мозък при канибали.
Книгата е силно препоръчителна за лекари и студенти по медицина.
Ето нещата, които научих:
-В днешни дни отравянето с живак е изключително рядко в развитите страни. Повечето случаи се дължат на прекалена консумация на риба и морски дарове. Парадоксално, тъй като тези храни са сравнително скъпи, пациенти се оказват най-вече богати (worried well) хора. Певецът Роби Уилямс, актьорите Джеръми Пивън и Жанел Моне са разказвали за симптомите си, причинени от пескатарианска диета.
-Един от най-рядко използваните наркотици фенциклидин (ангелски прах) е разработен като лекарство с търговско име Sernyl, което бързо е спряно от употреба заради страничните си ефекти - халюцинации с дисоциация между емоциите и перцепцията.
-Около половината случаи на редкия анти-NMDA рецепторен енцефалит (основа на книгата по истински случай Brain on fire) са свързани с тумор на яйчника, който образува антителата.
-Терминът витамин е въведен от биохимика Казимир Функ, който първи изолира витамин В1 (тиамин)
В книгата има грабващи пациентски истории за болестта на Пик (фронтотемпорална деменция), пелагра, енцефалопатия на Корсаков и изчезналото вече заболяване куру, причинено от приони и предаващо се чрез ядене на човешки мозък при канибали.
Книгата е силно препоръчителна за лекари и студенти по медицина.
September 6, 2024
This was interesting. I thought it was going to be more focused on mental illness as a whole, but what it wound up being was stories of people who “lost their minds” bc of some random sickness that messed with their brains. Hence the “One molecule away from madness.” As in all it takes is one illness that messes with our brains for people to go mad.
It’s an interesting premise, one that is suspiciously similar to the Batman comic “A Killing Joke,” that I just happened to have read yesterday. It’s funny how eerily similar in concept these two reads are, but I guess it’s a premise that people are fascinated by, the very fine line that separates us from them.
Not quite a 5 star read, but a solid 4 stars.
It’s an interesting premise, one that is suspiciously similar to the Batman comic “A Killing Joke,” that I just happened to have read yesterday. It’s funny how eerily similar in concept these two reads are, but I guess it’s a premise that people are fascinated by, the very fine line that separates us from them.
Not quite a 5 star read, but a solid 4 stars.
December 2, 2021
A fascinating journey into neurology, science and medicine through gripping stories and incredible history.
It begins with an overview of the brain, how it develops and the types of threats that it's susceptible to. The author is great at explaining the science in ways that I could understand. She then proceeds to illustrate the different types of threats through stories and history.
The stories are harrowing. They take the reader from jungle-dwelling cannibals in the Pacific to lost communities in Colombia terrorized by violence to an unsuspecting student in the US who suddenly finds herself surrounded by zombies in The Walking Dead!
I love books that introduce me to a new discipline through compelling stories and this was exactly that. Without any background in medicine or science, I now feel like I have a basic understanding of neurology, the brain and the challenges doctors, patients and researches face protecting it.
It begins with an overview of the brain, how it develops and the types of threats that it's susceptible to. The author is great at explaining the science in ways that I could understand. She then proceeds to illustrate the different types of threats through stories and history.
The stories are harrowing. They take the reader from jungle-dwelling cannibals in the Pacific to lost communities in Colombia terrorized by violence to an unsuspecting student in the US who suddenly finds herself surrounded by zombies in The Walking Dead!
I love books that introduce me to a new discipline through compelling stories and this was exactly that. Without any background in medicine or science, I now feel like I have a basic understanding of neurology, the brain and the challenges doctors, patients and researches face protecting it.
November 16, 2021
This book is an incredible dive into how our DNA can impact diseases, especially as they relate to our brain.
The author does an excellent job teaching readers
about the discovery of genetic mutations that can lead to diseases like Huntington’s and Alzheimer’s through a series of stories. I found each of the stories to be just the right length to be informative enough to understand the full story while also not diving too deep to overwhelm the reader. Each story gives enough closure to wrap up the point nicely, but also piques your curiosity with enough details to arm you if your wanted to do a deeper dive.
One particularly interesting case follows a woman named Lauren through her “walking dead disease” where she is convinced that she is living in the TV show The Walking Dead for months. In this anecdote the author explains that in many cases, doctors and nurses assumed she was using the drug PCP. She then includes information about the creation and medical uses for PCP in the 60s and its evolution to a street drug.
I would highly recommend this read for anyone with a curious mind about the ways our minds can change over time.
The author does an excellent job teaching readers
about the discovery of genetic mutations that can lead to diseases like Huntington’s and Alzheimer’s through a series of stories. I found each of the stories to be just the right length to be informative enough to understand the full story while also not diving too deep to overwhelm the reader. Each story gives enough closure to wrap up the point nicely, but also piques your curiosity with enough details to arm you if your wanted to do a deeper dive.
One particularly interesting case follows a woman named Lauren through her “walking dead disease” where she is convinced that she is living in the TV show The Walking Dead for months. In this anecdote the author explains that in many cases, doctors and nurses assumed she was using the drug PCP. She then includes information about the creation and medical uses for PCP in the 60s and its evolution to a street drug.
I would highly recommend this read for anyone with a curious mind about the ways our minds can change over time.
March 10, 2022
Fascinating reading about various conditions that can occur in one's brain. Peskin discusses Huntington's Disease which is caused by a flaw in DNA. It is an inherited disease that causes one to lose motor skills and intellectual processing and usually results in early death.
Peskin is a neurologist who confronts these diseases and tries to help patients she sees in her practice. Creutzfeldt-Jakob is a frightening disease that causes deterioration of the brain and results in quick death.
This book reads like a book of detective stories about various conditions/diseases like Alzheimer's Disease, Pick's disease, Pellagra, Neuritis, and Kuru. She delves into how these diseases are researched and how cures have been found to treat Pellagra and Kuru and that hope is on the horizon for a cure/treatment for Alzheimer's disease.
Peskin is a neurologist who confronts these diseases and tries to help patients she sees in her practice. Creutzfeldt-Jakob is a frightening disease that causes deterioration of the brain and results in quick death.
This book reads like a book of detective stories about various conditions/diseases like Alzheimer's Disease, Pick's disease, Pellagra, Neuritis, and Kuru. She delves into how these diseases are researched and how cures have been found to treat Pellagra and Kuru and that hope is on the horizon for a cure/treatment for Alzheimer's disease.
April 12, 2022
Of course I knew that much mental illness is biological, even if it can be triggered by events or experiences, such as abuse. And I knew that environmental toxins like lead and mercury can play havoc with the brain. But I had no idea of the role molecules play. In one case, a tumor in a woman's body was producing a molecule that had the same effect on perception and behavior as the hallucinogen PCP. Mutant molecules can give rise to dementia. Aberrant proteins can cause Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a neurodegenerative disease that is inevitably fatal. A vitamin deficiency, like not getting enough thiamine in the diet, can cause people to make up stories, believing them to be true. Peskin is a terrific writer, so you will be pulled along with the stories she tells, even if you don't quite understand the science.
March 16, 2022
What an excellent book! I had picked this up expecting it to be tantalizing and juicy--full of shock value. But, instead, what I got was a well-written, well-researched, and very compassionate book about brain diseases and those who suffer from them. While all the answers weren't there (because the medical world does not have them, either), Manning Peskin provides a ton of fascinating theories and hints towards the final solution. I was completely hooked from chapter one, and had the hardest time putting this book down. Would definitely recommend to anyone who is interested in how our brains work.
May 18, 2024
Listened to the audiobook.
I...eh. This book was definitely interesting and I really liked the variety of things discussed. HOWEVER, that variety made it feel..messy. I know that this is also Peskin's first book so Ill give her a pass.
I...eh. This book was definitely interesting and I really liked the variety of things discussed. HOWEVER, that variety made it feel..messy. I know that this is also Peskin's first book so Ill give her a pass.
November 24, 2023
Great book, I learned a ton. It included some great examples of where neurology and psychiatry meet.
March 18, 2022
Summary: Not enough details given that this is so closely related to my professional interests, but I think the fascinating stories and clear descriptions will make this a winner for most readers.
This was a fascinating look at disorders of the brain which each have a single, known molecular cause. The author did a great job picking individual stories to tell to introduce us to each disease. The stories are really moving. They also include a good number of stories where there is either already a cure or some hope of a cure. That kept the collection more upbeat than it might have been. The stories where a cure is on the horizon also felt like they were covering some cutting edge science.
Objectively, I think this was an incredible book. It was engaging and so easy to follow. The author has an impressive ability to explain scientific topics accurately (if simply) with very little scientific jargon. The organization of diseases by class of mechanism was one of the best examples I've seen of book organization helping readers mentally organize new information. I think this book is going to appeal to most readers, even people who might usually be intimidated by science nonfiction. The many positive goodreads reviews suggest this is the case. However, as someone who works in genomics, I found this disappointingly light.
Although the author does a good job describing the science accurately, she doesn't describe it completely. For example, she describes using genetic 'tags' to find the gene responsible for Huntington's disease and describes a candidate treatment for ALS as 'a DNA-like molecule'. I was able to guess (I think correctly, based on a google search) that she's talking about using linkage disequilibrium to find the Huntington's disease gene and about using RNAi for ALS treatment. Her description doesn't give complete info about either of these mechanisms. By avoiding jargon, she also doesn't give people the language they need to discuss these ideas succinctly. As someone who works in a related field, I couldn't discuss these topics without that level of detail unless I wanted to look professionally incompetent.
For most readers, I do think the ease of reading and accessibility will be a worth giving up some detail. The stories told here are fascinating. The scientific concepts are very cool and I think a reader will get an accurate, high-level understanding of the science from this book. I love that a book exists that shares these stories with fun, easy, accurate descriptions! It's just that as someone steeped in the professional jargon and interested in the greater specificity that jargon provides, this book wasn't the best fit for me.This review was originally posted on Doing Dewey
This was a fascinating look at disorders of the brain which each have a single, known molecular cause. The author did a great job picking individual stories to tell to introduce us to each disease. The stories are really moving. They also include a good number of stories where there is either already a cure or some hope of a cure. That kept the collection more upbeat than it might have been. The stories where a cure is on the horizon also felt like they were covering some cutting edge science.
Objectively, I think this was an incredible book. It was engaging and so easy to follow. The author has an impressive ability to explain scientific topics accurately (if simply) with very little scientific jargon. The organization of diseases by class of mechanism was one of the best examples I've seen of book organization helping readers mentally organize new information. I think this book is going to appeal to most readers, even people who might usually be intimidated by science nonfiction. The many positive goodreads reviews suggest this is the case. However, as someone who works in genomics, I found this disappointingly light.
Although the author does a good job describing the science accurately, she doesn't describe it completely. For example, she describes using genetic 'tags' to find the gene responsible for Huntington's disease and describes a candidate treatment for ALS as 'a DNA-like molecule'. I was able to guess (I think correctly, based on a google search) that she's talking about using linkage disequilibrium to find the Huntington's disease gene and about using RNAi for ALS treatment. Her description doesn't give complete info about either of these mechanisms. By avoiding jargon, she also doesn't give people the language they need to discuss these ideas succinctly. As someone who works in a related field, I couldn't discuss these topics without that level of detail unless I wanted to look professionally incompetent.
For most readers, I do think the ease of reading and accessibility will be a worth giving up some detail. The stories told here are fascinating. The scientific concepts are very cool and I think a reader will get an accurate, high-level understanding of the science from this book. I love that a book exists that shares these stories with fun, easy, accurate descriptions! It's just that as someone steeped in the professional jargon and interested in the greater specificity that jargon provides, this book wasn't the best fit for me.This review was originally posted on Doing Dewey
August 12, 2022
Cromaine's Nonfiction Book Club read this title for August and we almost universally gave it 5 stars. We thought it was interesting how Peskin categorized the different causes of brain maladies, and we really loved her writing style. Each story begins with a very personal view of a recent case of a person suffering from an affliction before zooming out to show the history of their disease and all of the efforts made to learn how the diseases function. The narrative progresses to the present day to show we have cured the disease or might be able to in the future. We felt it was truly remarkable and frightening that sometimes the addition or subtraction of something as small as a molecule can completely alter an individual's behavior and personality. At the same time, A Molecule Away from Madness gives us hope for the future as we see how dedicated scientists are and how hard many are working to improve our understanding and methods of treatment in this complex field.
December 27, 2022
This was fascinating to me, and easy to read and digest without having much background knowledge in genetics, biology, or molecular science. I learned a lot from this book, and the way it was structured around real stories kept it captivating and not at all boring. I also really liked how the chapters included background information/stories about the scientists and doctors who discovered the diseases or molecules relating to the conditions being discussed. There were a lot of really sad stories in here, but the book has an overall optimistic view of how far we have come with molecular science and the future of treating neurological disorders.
January 12, 2022
Fascinating book that sits at the intersection of readable science, riveting history, and challenging, yet deeply touching family dynamics. This book is incredibly well researched and brings the reader on a journey across at least 4 continents, several centuries and billions of neurons. As a non-scientist, Peskin's writing taught me a ton about DNA, genetics, and how our brains work. Definitely recommend this book.
January 17, 2022
Well done! Quite an interesting read from neurology perspective. Even with my health care background, I learned a lot about mental health and the biology behind it. My only issue is at times, there are tangents that seem unrelated. For readers interested, please keep reading because eventually they make sense. I promise. It is well done and I highly recommend.
May 19, 2023
A very entertaining quick little read on the catastrophes of deleterious molecules in our body. It reminds me of the book, Brain on Fire which is a wild autobiography on a parasite in the brain of a woman which made her go mad
November 24, 2022
This book was great. I was worried early on that the language would go over my head, but it was very interesting and easy to understand. The stories about human experiences brought it close to home and easier to understand as a result.
I am not sure if this author has other books, but if so, I will be reading them.
I am not sure if this author has other books, but if so, I will be reading them.
April 28, 2023
A truly exceptional book that makes you rethink everything about how life works. This book makes me want to study biology again and solve all of life’s mysteries. This book is like a Sherlock Holmes mystery for those interested in molecular biology. Every chapter has an unlikely villain or an unsuspecting hero.
February 22, 2025
Interesting stories of discovery of brain disorders and frequemtly their causes and cures. Fascinating how a small change in one gene results in Huntington's. Discovery of alzheimers, Jakob Kreutzfield syndrome, various vitamin deficiencies and how the bodies own immune system are explained.
August 8, 2022
Eye-opening
Written in language easily understood by a layperson, Peskin provides valuable information on the history, causes and treatments of dementia and other serious health issues. Case studies are fascinating and broaden the picture of the illnesses described. Ongoing research leads one to hope that Alzheimer's disease may be conquered, if not in our lifetimes, in those of our children. A thoroughly fascinating read. Highly recommended.
Written in language easily understood by a layperson, Peskin provides valuable information on the history, causes and treatments of dementia and other serious health issues. Case studies are fascinating and broaden the picture of the illnesses described. Ongoing research leads one to hope that Alzheimer's disease may be conquered, if not in our lifetimes, in those of our children. A thoroughly fascinating read. Highly recommended.
November 18, 2024
A Molecule Away from Madness comprises of individual stories about neurological conditions that alter one’s personality. In each chapter, she introduces stories of people who suffered from DNA related (Huntington’s Disease, Alzheimer’s, Frontotemporal Dementia/Pick’s disease), protein related (NDMA receptors), and other small molecule related neurological diseases (evaders and invaders; vitamin deficiencies and external toxins or drugs). She interweaves these stories with the history of each condition and how it came to be discovered by scientists.
What makes this book unique is how Manning Peskin manages to breakdown the science underlying these diseases while also illustrating the real impact they have one peoples’ lives — which couldn’t have be done without her excellent storytelling skills. Highly recommend this book and it’s enjoyable even without a scientific background.
What makes this book unique is how Manning Peskin manages to breakdown the science underlying these diseases while also illustrating the real impact they have one peoples’ lives — which couldn’t have be done without her excellent storytelling skills. Highly recommend this book and it’s enjoyable even without a scientific background.
July 19, 2022
Fascinating and horrifying tales of what can happen when molecules in the brain are even just a little bit out of step. Some chapters are stronger than others. "Deadly Laughter" is the best, in my opinion. I particularly enjoyed this one as an Audible selection.
June 6, 2022
Fascinating book about medical issues of the brain caused by things like problems with genes, a lack of proper nutrition or eating something you should not eat.
This book is written in a similar style to some of Oliver Sack’s books. The author tells us about a person, the affliction they are suffering from and then takes us through the history of the disease and how Drs figured out what was going on. Not all the diseases she talks about can currently be cured.
The author does a good job of engaging the reader while still providing detailed information. She doesn’t fall into pop science type writing.
This book is written in a similar style to some of Oliver Sack’s books. The author tells us about a person, the affliction they are suffering from and then takes us through the history of the disease and how Drs figured out what was going on. Not all the diseases she talks about can currently be cured.
The author does a good job of engaging the reader while still providing detailed information. She doesn’t fall into pop science type writing.
April 21, 2022
Sara Manning Peskin, an assistant professor of clinical neurology, has written a fascinating compilation of patient histories, “A Molecule Away from Madness.” This work of non-fiction is divided into three parts—DNA Mutants; Rebellious Proteins; and Brain Invaders and Evaders. In each section, we learn about men and women who, for reasons that are not readily apparent to them or their doctors, experience bizarre symptoms that wreak havoc on their minds and bodies.
Peskin’s prose is concise, lucid, intimate, and compelling. Squeamish readers should be forewarned that the episodes described here are frightening and disturbing. Under certain circumstances, molecular anomalies may rob anyone of normal speech, cognition, and/or mobility.
The author presents her well-documented case studies with compassion and sensitivity. Furthermore, she pays tribute to the dedicated scientists who spend countless hours attempting to identify and treat the maladies described here. Researchers have made significant strides in understanding neurological disorders, but Dr. Pessin reminds us that the mind-body connection is incredibly complex and, in many ways, still a mystery.
Peskin’s prose is concise, lucid, intimate, and compelling. Squeamish readers should be forewarned that the episodes described here are frightening and disturbing. Under certain circumstances, molecular anomalies may rob anyone of normal speech, cognition, and/or mobility.
The author presents her well-documented case studies with compassion and sensitivity. Furthermore, she pays tribute to the dedicated scientists who spend countless hours attempting to identify and treat the maladies described here. Researchers have made significant strides in understanding neurological disorders, but Dr. Pessin reminds us that the mind-body connection is incredibly complex and, in many ways, still a mystery.
April 6, 2022
Quick little read on how molecular changes can cause neurological disorders. Even if you know a lot about weird brain diseases, you'll probably learn something from this book. No spoilers or anything, but I didn't know that some historians believe Abraham Lincoln took a certain toxic medication before he was president.
February 15, 2023
Quick, well-written, engaging dive into how small components can change a person completely. Fascinating blend of story-telling, history, research, and treatment methods.
December 11, 2023
A great reminder how fragile life is. This book will stick with me forever.
You can feel Peskin’s passion in this book. It was incredibly well written and executed.
You can feel Peskin’s passion in this book. It was incredibly well written and executed.
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