She Forgot Her Own Name. Can AI Help Bring Her Back?

Bill Gates’ $1M global challenge could change how we fight Alzheimer’s. I will join, not for the prize, but to play my part. Are you in?

In deep confusion, she looked into her daughter’s eyes and asked, “Who are you?”
Later, when her daughter whispered softly, “It’s me,” the hesitation in her gaze broke the daughter’s heart.
She is here, yet she is not. She has Dementia!

Memories Before Dementia

Fridays were magical in their home. Long before the family reached the door, the aroma of biryani greeted them: cardamom, cumin, and cinnamon sticks releasing their warmth into the air. A woman with a neat bun and warm eyes welcomed everyone. She brought each corner of the house to life, noticing every new petal and bud, celebrating each small achievement, and making every child feel as if they were her most favorite.

She remembered every joy and every sorrow: a neighbour’s grief, a cousin’s child’s first day at school, and a distant relative’s marriage anniversary. She never forgot the small rituals of love: a packed lunch, a goodbye kiss, a reminder to carry a sweater.

But now, the situation is different.

One evening, she finished a glass of water, placed it on the table, and asked again, “Can I have some water?” When reminded, she had just drunk water, and confusion clouded her eyes. She leaned against the wall, uncertain whether to believe her daughter’s voice or her fading memory.

The Global Challenge

That night, as I listened to my friend share her story, I felt the weight of her pain. Later, while scrolling through the news, one headline caught my attention.

Bill Gates has announced a $1 million Alzheimer’s Insights AI Prize.

As someone working at the intersection of AI and healthcare, I cannot ignore this news.
Alzheimer’s research is filled with decades’ worth of data: brain scans, patient histories, genetic markers, clinical notes, and trial results. But these clues are scattered, fragmented, and siloed. No single researcher or group of researchers can see the entire picture.

This prize is different. It calls on innovators worldwide to build AI systems that can reason with data, not just process it. Such systems can uncover hidden connections, test scientific ideas, and reveal insights humans may overlook.

The challenge opened on 19 August 2025. Teams from universities, research labs, startups, and organizations were invited to compete. The finals will take place in Copenhagen, March 2026, and the winning solution will be made freely available to scientists worldwide.

The Human Cost

In 2021, an estimated 57 million people worldwide were living with dementia, with more than 60% residing in low- and middle-income countries. Each year, nearly 10 million new cases are reported. That number could triple by 2050. Dementia can arise from many different diseases and injuries that damage the brain. The most common form is Alzheimer’s disease, which accounts for roughly 60–70% of all cases.

Behind each statistic is a family quietly grieving, even as their loved ones continue to breathe.

• A daughter who must repeatedly explain her identity.

• A husband who longs to hear once more, ‘I miss you, honey.’

• Grandchildren who are hugged warmly but without recognition.

This prize may not cure Alzheimer’s. But it could unlock forgotten insights, accelerate treatment discovery, and bring us closer to preserving the memories that define our identity.

A Future We Dare to Imagine

I shared the story of one home, but it is not just one. Today, nearly 60 to 70 million families across the globe live with the silent weight of dementia. Each of them longs for the warmth of recognition, the comfort of familiar words, and the love of memories that once defined their bonds.

This prize will not bring an instant cure. Yet it offers something powerful: the possibility that one day, AI and compassion together may help these families reclaim moments they thought were lost forever.

Gratitude must be given to Bill Gates for recognizing this pain and launching such a meaningful AI challenge. It is now on researchers and innovators everywhere to rise to the call, to combine their expertise with empathy, and to work toward breakthroughs that can bring hope to millions. Ultimately, the true measure of progress will not be in algorithms alone, but in the lives and relationships they may help restore.

And so the question remains: can AI really stitch back the broken hearts and souls of humans? I do not know. But for the first time in a long time, I want to believe it can.

👉 If this story touched you, share it with someone who needs hope today.

💭 Do you believe AI can truly help families facing Alzheimer’s?