The Angel and the Assassin: The Tiny Brain Cell That Changed the Course of Medicine

(Paperback)

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The riveting story of microglia-the "white blood cell of the brain"-from the scientists who discovered its dual capabilities to harm and heal, to the cutting-edge treatments emerging for a variety of brain diseases, including depression and Alzheimer's. A thrillingstory of scientific detective work and medical potential that illuminates the newly understood role of microglia-an elusive type of brain cell that is vitally relevant to our everyday lives. "The rarest of books- a combination of page-turning discovery and remarkably readable science journalism."-Mark Hyman, MD, #1New York Timesbestselling author ofFood- What the Heck Should I Eat NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY WIRED Until recently, microglia were thought to be helpful but rather boring- housekeeper cells in the brain. But a recent groundbreaking discovery has revealed that they connect our physical and mental health in surprising ways. When triggered-and anything that stirs up the immune system in the body can activate microglia, including chronic stressors, trauma, and viral infections-they can contribute to memory problems, anxiety, depression, and Alzheimer's. Under the right circumstances, however, microglia can be coaxed back into being angelic healers, able to make brain repairs in ways that help alleviate symptoms and hold the promise to one day prevent disease. With the compassion born of her own experience, award-winning journalist Donna Jackson Nakazawa illuminates this newly understood science, following practitioners and patients on the front lines of treatments that help to "reboot" microglia. In at least one case, she witnesses a stunning recovery-and in others, significant relief from pressing symptoms, offering new hope to the tens of millions who suffer from mental, cognitive, and physical health issues. Hailed as a "riveting," "stunning," and "visionary," The Angel and the Assassin offers us a radically reconceived picture of human health and promises to change everything we thought we knew about how to heal ourselves.

Reviews

A fascinating deep dive into the unsung heroes (and villains) inside our skulls . . . Donna Jackson Nakazawa has a journalists eye for story, a scholars understanding of the research, and a patients appreciation for how high the stakes truly are.Susannah Cahalan, New York Times bestselling author of Brain on Fire

An inspiring account that will provide a game-changing view of health for generations of researchers, clinicians, and citizens for years to come. Bravo!Dan Siegel, M.D., clinical professor, UCLA School of Medicine, and executive director of the Mindsight Institute

Riveting, engaging, and visionary.Terry Wahls, M.D., author of The Wahls Protocol

Colorful, page-turning, and accessible . . . I have great hopes for the practical application of what Jackson Nakazawa reveals.Amy Myers, M.D., New York Times bestselling author of The Autoimmune Solution

Few nonfiction writers can tell the tale of scientific inquiry so vividly that the reader can feel the excitement of discovery with every word. Donna Jackson Nakazawa is one of those writers, and this book tells the tale of one of the most intriguing and groundbreaking discoveries in all of medicine.Shannon Brownlee, senior vice president, Lown Institute, and author of Overtreated: Why Too Much Medicine Is Making Us Sicker and Poorer

The Angel and the Assassin is one of those astonishing medical yarns that you almost cant believe: how the power of this tiny cell was so long overlooked, how integral it has become to our understanding of neuroscience and immunology, how it has transformed the most basic ideas of who we are as humans. The book is especially essential reading for women, who face depression, Alzheimers disease, and autoimmune disorders at higher rates than men.Peggy Orenstein, New York Times bestselling author of Girls & Sex: Navigating the Complicated New Landscape

Jackson Nakazawa puts forth a revolutionary new way of thinking about the brains immune system and its interactions with immune function in the rest of the body. Much of the information here was new to me and has made me more optimistic about the future of medicine.Andrew Weil, M.D., New York Times bestselling author of Eight Weeks to Optimum Health and Healthy Aging

Author Bio

Donna Jackson Nakazawa is the author of three previous books exploring the intersection of neuroscience, immunology, and emotion-Childhood Disrupted, which was a finalist for the 2016 Books for a Better Life award,The Last Best Cure, andThe Autoimmune Epidemic. For her written contributions to the field of immunity, she has received the AESKU award and the National Health Information Award, which recognizes the nation's best magazine articles on health. Jackson Nakazawa's work has appeared inWired,Stat,The Boston Globe,The Washington Post,Health Affairs,Aeon,Parenting,AARP Magazine, andGlamour,and has been featured on the cover ofParadeas well as inTime. She has appeared on Today, NPR, NBC News, and ABC News, and has been the recipient of writing-in-residence fellowships from the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Yaddo, and the MacDowell Colony. She lives with her family in Maryland.