The story of dementia as I present it in these pages is the alternative narrative which has been occupying the shadowlands of the subject, and which is much in need of bringing into the light.

So far as we are aware, there has never been a book before with this title or aim. This may be because no-one has been foolhardy enough to attempt one! And it is true that this is a story in mid-flow, even perhaps still near the beginning. But the subject is so complex, and surrounded with so many misconceptions that, even in a truncated form, it needs to be told.

John Killick has chosen a simple but effective format. Each of the nine main chapters focuses on an individual or individuals (twelve in number) who, in his view, have made significant contributions to our knowledge.

The message is one of hope. Although the medical model has yielded little in the way of advances, that is not true of psychosocial initiatives.

This little book tells the hidden story of positive approaches, and those who have devoted their lives to finding alternative creative solutions to one of today’s great challenges. If your life is at all touched by dementia, you should be reading it.