Alzheimer, Alois

Introduction

German neurologist (1), Bavarian psychiatrist (2) 1864-1915. He started his career as a Professor of Psychology in Beslau. Later in Munich, his interest in histopathology led him to work with Franz Nissl. Together, they established the pathologic anatomy of mental illness including cerebral arteriosclerosis, Huntington's chorea & the disease that bears his name (Alzheimer's disease).

Alzheimer 1st described the disorder that bears his name in a meeting in Munich in 1906. He described a woman in her 50s, referred to as Auguste D with several characteristic features, including:

• progressive memory impairment
• disordered cognitive function
• altered behavior
  • paranoia
  • delusions
• loss of social appropriateness
• progressive decline in language function
• during the early & middle phases
  • alertness remained intact
  • motor & sensory function remained intact

More general terms

• Homo sapiens

Additional terms

• Alzheimer's disease (AD)
• Nissl, Franz