Dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's 8 years ago. He has lived with me for the last 6 years. I don't understand how he can forget what he ate just 5 minutes ago and ask 5 times in 15 minutes, "where is this place?" but he can play our whistle game. In the game I start by whistling a few random notes and he copies them perfectly. We do this for awhile, then I whistle a phrase of a song (kid's song, hymn, Christmas carol, etc.) and he will whistle the next part of the song, on key and perfectly. I don't understand. It's so mind boggling! How can it be Alzheimer's? How can it not be? Any insight?
His short, I mean really short term memory was terrible, but he can remember things from his childhood that are amazing!