The hippocampus, affected in Alzheimer’s disease, is primarily involved in which cognitive function?

The hippocampus, affected in Alzheimer’s disease, is primarily involved in which cognitive function?

• A. Memory formation and retrieval
• B. Language comprehension
• C. Visual perception
• D. Motor coordination

Answer: (A)

Memory formation and retrieval are the main functions supported by the hippocampus. It encodes new experiences, consolidates them into long-term memories, and helps retrieve episodic memories of events. In Alzheimer's disease, the hippocampus is among the first areas affected, which explains early symptoms like difficulty forming new memories and recalling recent events. The other options involve different brain regions: language comprehension mainly involves language areas in the temporal/parietal regions, visual perception is tied to the occipital lobe, and motor coordination relies on the motor cortex, cerebellum, and related pathways.

Memory formation and retrieval are the main functions supported by the hippocampus. It encodes new experiences, consolidates them into long-term memories, and helps retrieve episodic memories of events. In Alzheimer's disease, the hippocampus is among the first areas affected, which explains early symptoms like difficulty forming new memories and recalling recent events. The other options involve different brain regions: language comprehension mainly involves language areas in the temporal/parietal regions, visual perception is tied to the occipital lobe, and motor coordination relies on the motor cortex, cerebellum, and related pathways.