Which pairing correctly matches a disease with the person it was named after?

• A. Alzheimer's Disease — Dr. Alois Alzheimer
• B. Down Syndrome — Dr. James Parkinson
• C. Lou Gehrig's Disease — Dr. Tourette
• D. Tourette Syndrome — Dr. Down

Answer: (A)

Names of many medical conditions honor the clinician who first described them. Alzheimer’s disease is named after Alois Alzheimer, the physician who first described the distinctive dementia and brain changes associated with the condition. That link is why this pairing is correct.

The other pairings mix up who the disease was named for. Down syndrome is named after John Langdon Down, not a physician named James Parkinson. Parkinson’s disease is named after James Parkinson, not connected to Down in this context. Lou Gehrig’s disease refers to the athlete Lou Gehrig, not a doctor, and Tourette syndrome is named after Georges Gilles de la Tourette, not a Dr. Down.