ABSTRACT
This chapter draws together the concepts of behavioural staging, neuropathological staging and a metaphor of memory changes in dementia. The ‘bookcases in a library’ metaphor (in which specific bookcases have ‘restricted use’ or become ‘inaccessible’ over time) is a dynamic teaching tool for explaining what happens to memory and cognitive ability in Alzheimer type dementia (AD). Such teaching is intended to increase understanding of how cognitive functions change over time, how anomalies in memory functioning can be understood, and also to have a direct impact on day-to-day interactions and communication with persons with AD. This metaphor is simple and easily remembered, unlike some of the current academic models.
