Application of Literature in Health Sciences. Memory Loss in Lisa Genova’s Still Alice

Scientists were interested in better patient care and sought the best measures to achieve this goal. One path is through incorporating humanities into medical and healthcare practitioners’ education. The really big idea is that one studies humanities to become a better human, and while there are a billion reasons to study humanities, this paper focuses on how, through art and humanities, people can comprehend health, illness, and disability, namely how literature can be used to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease. This paper introduces the notion of medical and health humanities, briefly summarises their beginning, and how, so far, the applied literature in health sciences has been used. Next, the idea is illustrated in the example of Lisa Genova’s novel Still Alice. This part analyses how sickness and its impact on people’s lives is portrayed. Finally, the article proposes an original mode of application to acquire a deeper insight into illnesses, well-being, and pain that might be fostered in future healthcare providers, as well as a better understanding of patients and their caregivers.