The Neuroscientist Who Lost Her Mind : My Tale of Madness and Recovery

Neuroscientist Lipska was diagnosed early in 2015 with metastatic melanoma in her brain's frontal lobe. As the cancer progressed and was treated, the author experienced behavioral and cognitive symptoms connected to a range of mental disorders, including her professional specialty, schizophrenia. Lipska's family and associates were alarmed by the changes in her behavior, which she failed to acknowledge herself. Gradually, after a course of immunotherapy, Lipska returned to normal functioning, recalled her experience and, through her knowledge of neuroscience, identified the ways in which her brain changed during treatment. Lipska admits her condition was unusual; after recovery she was able to return to her research and resume her athletic training and compete in a triathalon. Most patients with similar brain cancers rarely survive to describe their ordeal. Lipska's memoir, coauthored with journalist McArdle, shows that strength and courage but also a encouraging support network are vital to recovery As A Deadly Cancer Spread Inside Her Brain, Leading Neuroscientist Barbara Lipska Was Plunged Into Madness--only To Miraculously Survive With Her Memories Intact. In January 2015, Barbara Lipska--a Leading Expert On The Neuroscience Of Mental Illness--was Diagnosed With Melanoma That Had Spread To Her Brain. Within Months, Her Frontal Lobe, The Seat Of Cognition, Began Shutting Down. She Descended Into Madness, Exhibiting Dementia- And Schizophrenia-like Symptoms That Terrified Her Family And Coworkers. But Miraculously, Just As Her Doctors Figured Out What Was Happening, The Immunotherapy They Had Prescribed Began To Work. Just Eight Weeks After Her Nightmare Began, Lipska Returned To Normal. With One Difference: She Remembered Her Brush With Madness With Exquisite Clarity. In [this Memoir], Lipska Describes Her Extraordinary Ordeal And Its Lessons About The Mind And Brain. She Explains How Mental Illness, Brain Injury, And Age Can Change Our Behavior, Personality, Cognition, And Memory. She Tells What It Is Like To Experience These Changes Firsthand. And She Reveals What Parts Of Us Remain, Even When So Much Else Is Gone.-- In January 2015, Lipska-- A Leading Expert On The Neuroscience Of Mental Illness-- Was Diagnosed With Melanoma That Had Spread To Her Brain. Within Months Her Frontal Lobe Began Shutting Down. She Descended Into Madness, Exhibiting Dementia- And Schizophrenia-like Symptoms. But Miraculously The Prescribed Immunotherapy Began To Work. Here Lipska Describes Her Ordeal And Its Lessons About The Mind And Brain. The Rat's Revenge -- The Vanishing Hand -- Into My Brain -- Derailed -- Poisoned -- Lost -- Inferno -- Chanterelles -- What Happened, Miss Simone? -- The Light Gets In -- Survivor. Barbara K. Lipska ; With Elaine Mcardle. Includes Bibliographical References. "As a deadly cancer spread inside her brain, leading neuroscientist Barbara Lipska was plunged into madness--only to miraculously survive with her memories intact. In the tradition of My Stroke of Insight and Brain on Fire, this powerful memoir recounts her ordeal and explains its unforgettablelessons about the brain and mind. In January 2015, Barbara Lipska--a leading expert on the neuroscience of mental illness--was diagnosed with melanoma that had spread to her brain. Within months, her frontal lobe, the seat of cognition, began shutting down. She descended intomadness, exhibiting dementia- and schizophrenia-like symptoms that terrified her family and coworkers. But miraculously, just as her doctors figured out what was happening, the immunotherapy they had prescribed began to work. Just eight weeks after her nightmare began, Lipska returned to normal. With one difference: she remembered her brush with madness with exquisite clarity. In The Neuroscientist Who Lost Her Mind, Lipska describes her extraordinary ordeal and its lessons about the mind and brain. She explains how mental illness, brain injury, and age can change our behavior, personality, cognition, and memory. She tells what it is like to experience these changes firsthand. And she reveals what parts of us remain, evenwhen so much else is gone"-- Provided by publisher "As a deadly cancer spread inside her brain, leading neuroscientist Barbara Lipska was plunged into madness--only to miraculously survive with her memories intact. In the tradition of My Stroke of Insight and Brain on Fire, this powerful memoir recounts her ordeal and explains its unforgettablelessons about the brain and mind. In January 2015, Barbara Lipska--a leading expert on the neuroscience of mental illness--was diagnosed with melanoma that had spread to her brain. Within months, her frontal lobe, the seat of cognition, began shutting down. She descended intomadness, exhibiting dementia- and schizophrenia-like symptoms that terrified her family and coworkers. But miraculously, just as her doctors figured out what was happening, the immunotherapy they had prescribed began to work. Just eight weeks after her nightmare began, Lipska returned to normal. With one difference: she remembered her brush with madness with exquisite clarity. In The Neuroscientist Who Lost Her Mind, Lipska describes her extraordinary ordeal and its lessons about the mind and brain. She explains how mental illness, brain injury, and age can change our behavior, personality, cognition, and memory. She tells what it is like to experience these changes firsthand. And she reveals what parts of us remain, even when so much else is gone"-- In the tradition of My Stroke of Insight and Brain on Fire, this powerful memoir recounts Barbara Lipska's deadly brain cancer and explains its unforgettable lessons about the brain and mind. Neuroscientist Lipska was diagnosed early in 2015 with metastatic melanoma in her brain's frontal lobe. As the cancer progressed and was treated, she experienced behavioral and cognitive symptoms connected to a range of mental disorders, including dementia and her professional specialty, schizophrenia. Lipska's family and associates were alarmed by the changes in her behavior, which she failed to acknowledge herself. Gradually, after a course of immunotherapy, Lipska returned to normal functioning, amazingly recalled her experience, and through her knowledge of neuroscience identified the ways in which her brain changed during treatment. Lipska admits her condition was unusual; after recovery she was able to return to her research and resume her athletic training and compete in a triathalon. Most patients with similar brain cancers rarely survive to describe their ordeal. Lipska's memoir, coauthored with journalist Elaine McArdle, shows that strength and courage but also an encouraging support network are vital to recovery. "As a deadly cancer spread inside her brain, leading neuroscientist Barbara Lipska was plunged into madness--only to miraculously survive with her memories intact. In January 2015, Barbara Lipska--a leading expert on the neuroscience of mental illness--was diagnosed with melanoma that had spread to her brain. Within months, her frontal lobe, the seat of cognition, began shutting down. She descended into madness, exhibiting dementia- and schizophrenia-like symptoms that terrified her family and coworkers. But miraculously, just as her doctors figured out what was happening, the immunotherapy they had prescribed began to work. Just eight weeks after her nightmare began, Lipska returned to normal. With one difference: she remembered her brush with madness with exquisite clarity. In [this memoir], Lipska describes her extraordinary ordeal and its lessons about the mind and brain. She explains how mental illness, brain injury, and age can change our behavior, personality, cognition, and memory. She tells what it is like to experience these changes firsthand. And she reveals what parts of us remain, even when so much else is gone."-- Front jacket flap