Question

Mary, age 82, keeps insisting that someone has been sneaking into her apartment and turning on her stove when she isn’t looking. Her family has noticed that Mary has been more and more forgetful lately, and now she has begun rambling in her speech and using many word substitutions, like "horse" for "dog." Mary is likely to be suffering from _________

a. osteoarthritis.
b. negative stereotyping.
c. diabetes.
d. Alzheimer's disease.

Answer 1

Mary's symptoms such as memory loss, word substitutions, and disorientation suggest she is likely suffering from Alzheimer's disease, a condition characterized by severe cognitive decline.

Step-by-step explanation:

Mary, an 82-year-old with memory issues and unusual behavior, is likely suffering from Alzheimer's disease. This condition is characterized by disruptive memory loss, confusion about time or place, difficulty with planning and executing tasks, poor judgment, and personality changes. The description of Mary's symptoms, such as forgetting to pay bills, substituting words, and becoming disoriented, align with these key indicators of Alzheimer's. It's important to note that while some of these symptoms may occur in normal aging, the severity and impact on daily life suggest a more serious cognitive decline.