Alois Alzheimer – The Physician

In December 1888 Alois Alzheimer began his medical career as assistant physician at the Municipal Hospital of Lunatics and Epileptics in Frankfurt am Main. The clinical facility was inaugurated in 1864 under the supervision of Heinrich Hoffmann, author of the booklet ”Struwwelpeter“. Later on, after the appointment of Franz Nissl to a chair in Heidelberg, Alzheimer became assistant medical director.

In April 1894 Alois Alzheimer married the widow Cecilie Simonette Nathalie Geisenheimer, née Wallerstein (1860–1901). Three children came from the marriage.

Alzheimer’s research work includes studies on progressive paralysis, arteriosclerosis of the brain, alcoholism and epilepsy. In addition, Alzheimer was a renowned forensic psychiatrist.