Alois Alzheimer(1864-1915)
His family was strictly Catholic. The father was a judicial councilor and notary. Alois Alzheimer attended high school in Aschaffenburg. Alzheimer's was enthusiastic about science while still at school. In 1883 he passed his high school diploma and began studying medicine in Berlin. He later also studied in Tübingen and Würzburg. In 1887, Alzheimer completed his dissertation with a histological study of the cerumen glands at the University of Würzburg. After studying, Alzheimer met a mentally ill lady and went traveling with her. After this trip he became more and more interested in psychology. The following year, 1888, he came to the Frankfurt mental asylum as an assistant. This institution was considered very progressive for the time and research was also carried out there. In Frankfurt, Alzheimer met the pathologist Franz Nissl, with whom he remained friends throughout his life.
In 1895, Alzheimer was appointed second assistant (senior physician) to succeed Nissl. In April 1894, Alzheimer married the widow Cäcilia Wallerstein. The marriage resulted in three children. Because his wife was wealthy, Alzheimer was able to devote himself to research without worry. In 1901 Cecilia died of angina. On November 26, 1901, Auguste Deter went down in history as the first "Alzheimer's patient". The patient with symptoms of memory impairment died in 1906. Alzheimer undertook a brain pathological examination and discovered herd-shaped deposits, the "Alzheimer's plaques and fibrils". Alois Alzheimer was then appointed head of the anatomical laboratory at the Munich Mental Hospital in 1903 by the psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin. In the years that followed, Alzheimer investigated additional cases of senile dementia. In 1904 he completed his habilitation with the work "Histological studies on the differential diagnosis of progressive paralysis."
Alzheimer worked unpaid for several years because there was no permanent position for him. He is also said to have financed some of his employees out of his own pocket. He probably followed his father's saying: "The stronger should support the weaker." In 1908 Alzheimer was finally appointed associate professor. Two years later, Kraepelin used the term "Alzheimer's disease" for the first time in his textbook. In 1912 Alzheimer was appointed full professor of psychiatry and clinic director at the University of Breslau. Shortly after his arrival, however, Alzheimer became ill with a bacterial inflammation of the inner lining of the heart.
Alois Alzheimer died on December 19, 1915 at the age of 52.
The syndrome of senile dementia he discovered and described is becoming increasingly widespread as the population ages. Former US President Ronald Reagan was one of the most prominent victims of Alzheimer's disease.
In 1895, Alzheimer was appointed second assistant (senior physician) to succeed Nissl. In April 1894, Alzheimer married the widow Cäcilia Wallerstein. The marriage resulted in three children. Because his wife was wealthy, Alzheimer was able to devote himself to research without worry. In 1901 Cecilia died of angina. On November 26, 1901, Auguste Deter went down in history as the first "Alzheimer's patient". The patient with symptoms of memory impairment died in 1906. Alzheimer undertook a brain pathological examination and discovered herd-shaped deposits, the "Alzheimer's plaques and fibrils". Alois Alzheimer was then appointed head of the anatomical laboratory at the Munich Mental Hospital in 1903 by the psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin. In the years that followed, Alzheimer investigated additional cases of senile dementia. In 1904 he completed his habilitation with the work "Histological studies on the differential diagnosis of progressive paralysis."
Alzheimer worked unpaid for several years because there was no permanent position for him. He is also said to have financed some of his employees out of his own pocket. He probably followed his father's saying: "The stronger should support the weaker." In 1908 Alzheimer was finally appointed associate professor. Two years later, Kraepelin used the term "Alzheimer's disease" for the first time in his textbook. In 1912 Alzheimer was appointed full professor of psychiatry and clinic director at the University of Breslau. Shortly after his arrival, however, Alzheimer became ill with a bacterial inflammation of the inner lining of the heart.
Alois Alzheimer died on December 19, 1915 at the age of 52.
The syndrome of senile dementia he discovered and described is becoming increasingly widespread as the population ages. Former US President Ronald Reagan was one of the most prominent victims of Alzheimer's disease.