When Memory Fades: What to Expect at Every Stage, from Early Signs to Full Support for Alzheimer's and Dementia

by Nathaniel Chin

A geriatrician whose perspective on his specialty changed when his own father was diagnosed with dementia provides clear, calm questions to ask and tasks to tackle—as well as what not to worry about—from the first moments of concern.

When Nate Chin’s father, also a doctor, began to feel his mind slipping, even a family as knowledgeable and capable as theirs was knocked back on its heels, disorganized, and unsure of what to do first. Chin, who in addition to his practice, became one of his father’s primary caregivers until he died, determined to figure out the best way to move forward, for his own family, his patients, and now for everyone else.

WHEN MEMORY FADES is clear, smart, and cuts through the understandable impulse to grasp at ineffective treatments. From the first concerns that something might be wrong right through to the toughest stages of the disease, Chin gives granular information and frames topics that help readers figure out how to think about what’s

--How to Distinguish Normal Signs of Aging from Clinical Dementia
--How to Avoid Delaying Assessment
--Navigating the Medical Exam
--How to Plan & Run a Family Meeting
--Focus on the early stages/transition period to full disease can be determinative to both quality of patient life and interactions
--How to Set New Routines & Healthy Habits
--Day to Day Patient Care
--Community and Connection, and How to Maintain Them
--Dying of Alzheimer’s is Just Dying

Genres: Nonfiction, Health

432 pages, Hardcover

Published June 2, 2026

Reviews

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have a family member or friend dealing with Alzheimer's or dementia, this resource contains lot of incredibly useful evidence-based, scientific information. This walks you through from the beginnings of cognitive decline through diagnosis, caretaking, and end-of-life. The author is not only a geriatrician specializing in memory, but also lived the experience of helping to care for his father throughout his Alzheimer's stages. I do think this is a resource that would be helpful for families encountering many other types of elder diseases, as the sections on the family meeting, legal & financial concerns, etc. would still provide useful considerations.

I listened to the audio version, as that is the advanced copy I received, however I have purchased a print copy as I do feel it will be a better resource for accessing sections as needed. This is certainly a tool I will return to if the need arises with another family member, as long as it is updated to remain current in light of scientific advances being made. Disclaimer: because our family is currently coping with late-stage dementia, I did listen to snippets and fast-forward through sections that we have already moved beyond.

Main section headings:
--How to Distinguish Normal Signs of Aging from Clinical Dementia
--How to Avoid Delaying Assessment
--Navigating the Medical Exam
--How to Plan & Run a Family Meeting
--Focus on the early stages/transition period to full disease can be determinative to both quality of patient life and interactions
--How to Set New Routines & Healthy Habits
--Day to Day Patient Care
--Community and Connection, and How to Maintain Them
--Dying of Alzheimer’s is Just Dying

Thank you to Macmillan Audio & NetGalley for this ALC. All opinions stated are solely my own and provided voluntarily.

#whenmemoryfades #macmillanaudio #netgalley

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating hovering between 4.5-5 star as there was some redundant information though I can see why Dr. Chin chose to repeat some of the information he provided multiple times.

I selected Dr. Nathaniel Chin's audiobook, When Memory Fades, to learn more about the advancements in Alzheimer's and Dementia research and scientific gains made over the years. When I was in 1st grade my grandmother passed away due to Alzheimer's. I have known and loved many people with Dementia, and because of my increased risk I thought it would be helpful to read. As someone who also has a parent, I think it is important to educate yourself when it comes to conditions that may impact your family at some point.

Dr. Nathaniel Chin did an excellent job with this book. I was wondering how a fairly lengthy book about one subject would be. I was pleasantly surprised that Dr. Chin had so many helpful sections to his book, giving applicable advice, and not just having reactive suggestions. I think having a perspective of a child who had a parent who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and subsequently passed away, has not only the medical knowledge being a geriatrician, but also first hand experience of how it can affect a parent, a family, and a child.

This is a book I feel would be best purchased as a physical copy. Dr. Chin was such a wealth of knowledge and really clearly and thoroughly sorted out sections in a helpful way. My issue was that listening to an audiobook it would have required a lot of me pausing the book, and writing down things he said in each section that I thought would be important to remember. The problem was, was that there was so much helpful information I ended up getting overwhelmed and realized there was no way I could continue on with that method. Purchasing a copy and highlighting the helpful tips to remember would be a better solution in my opinion.

He was able to describe a lot of medical information in a way that was easy for the layperson to digest, and weaved in personal anecdotes that kept this book from being too dry. It also humanized the diseases, and made them relatable and less scary as someone who has a higher chance of having Alzheimer's in the future. It was also interesting the link between many other co-morbid diseases like diabetes, which my grandmother also suffered from.

Dr. Nathaniel Chin also gave great ideas of how to create positive changes NOW instead of waiting until it is too late. He also gave hope that really it is never too late to make changes, and gave many examples of patients in his clinic that took his words to heart and saw that they could lessen symptoms by managing factors in their lives. This does not mean you won't have Alzheimer's or Dementia, but it means it can slow the progression and help you manage some of the symptoms of the conditions for longer giving you a better quality of life.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and Dr. Nathaniel Chin for an advanced audiobook copy of the book.

[Joyce B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very timely and helpful. It was easy to read and definitely presented as being aware of the emotions associated with the general diagnosis of “Dementia”. It was particularly effective considering the author relayed what he and his family went through with his father’s diagnosis. I do wish there had been a chapter on dealing with an affected family member who is agitated and uncooperative. The only thing I didn’t like was in the middle of the book it got a bit too technical and I have a healthcare background. I think all the medical/research information was a bit overwhelming. I recommend it for anyone who is close to someone that has been diagnosed. But I also recommend it for adults 40 and above because there was good information about lifestyle habits that potentially contribute to the possibility of developing Alzheimer’s. This was new to me.

[Cee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enlightening! The fact that sometimes dementia doesn’t start with memory loss was not something I was aware of. Very indepth information from symptoms, testing, to assistance for both patients and caregivers. The book covers the importance of structure and routine in daily life, setting up legal paperwork and making decisions sooner rather than later. Lots of great advice for the caregiver for both themself and the patient. Lots of information on participating in studies and trials. Also what to expect near the end. It was very interesting to hear that Alzheimers is not only the memory/brain dying but the body too as the brain controls the body’s functions. So much interesting and useful information. Definitely worth reading!

[Karianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s, and Macmillan Audio for the ARC and ALC copies of this book. The audio is great as the narrator has a clear, confident, yet calming voice without being condescending. The book is a great companion for anyone with a family member dealing with dementia or Alzheimer’s at any point in the journey. The author shares his own experiences, which mostly feel like him empathizing with the reader, but felt a few times like stating the way he did it was best. I didn’t love the nutrition chapter as it did use some problematic phrases like “only eat foods with names you can pronounce.”

[Jo Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was interested in reading this book because I have had family members in the past, and in the present, who have had this horrible disease. I found this book to be full of important Information and resources. It was broken down into steps you can follow to prevent being suddenly overwhelmed due to lack of preparation. The book reminds you to think of the person as a person and not only a victim of the disease, and to help them live their best life even as they are changing. A very helpful resource.

I received a copy for free and gave my honest opinion voluntarily.

[Judi]

I wish I had read this a few years back when my dad started showing signs of Alzheimer's. Chin balances his personal experience with his father's journey with the disease and his clinical expertise to provide insight and practical, actionable advice. I always felt like a valued and capable reader - never doctor-splained.

I highly recommend this for anyone who is worried about a loved one or themselves. You'll learn a lot and never be scared (at least I wasn't) about what's to come and how to face it.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really interesting and comprehensive book. As I am in the UK a few things are US healthcare system specific but it doesn’t detract from the content. The examples and personal experience really give colour to this disease. Definitely worth a read by everyone. I am at the time of my life with ageing parents and it certainly gave me food for thought. Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the ARC.

[mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a well written and thoughtful work. I would highly recommend reading this for anyone going through this or is concerned about a loved one.

[Vee W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic overview and manual which should be mandatory reading in schools and homes, with readers keeping up to date on Dr Chin’s podcast. No one is immune to memory loss, yet.

[Lexi readingwhilehot · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found so many great things about this book! It would be helpful for any family member friend or supporter of someone experiencing memory or cognition changes as a part of age related illnesses. My biggest takeaway was how to have the initial conversations around “hey, I think you have Alzheimer’s”, which the author takes valuable time outlining to provide a template for the reader.

The author is a geriatric doctor with the personal experience of watching a parent die of a dementia related illness. An author who holds both of those perspectives is so valuable for trust around this sensitive topic. His approach is compassionate, yet direct and solution oriented. I found the first half and final chapters the most informative and practically useful. In between these points was a “lifestyle change” list for supporting brain health. While this was relevant, it was more or less the same information you could get in a 2 minute article. Regardless, it’s useful to hear the nuance in these lifestyle changes when we live in a world of clickbait and miracle cures.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC! We need more of this kind of work!