Conversation: The conversation between human and AI assistant.
[|Human|] My husband is 65 years old with Alzheimer s disease. Ironically, he was a family practice doctor, until 4 years ago. Yesterday, his right eye began to bother him. Redness on the lid, rim, and eyeball itself. Today, I noticed that the eyelid was not closing completely. His smile is crooked. He is unable to answer my questions about numbness, pain, etc. He has always had excellent health except for the Alzheimer s. No high blood pressure. Low cholesterol. Only taking RX for enlarged prostrate. I am trained as an artist. Thank you, Kay E. Peterson Woodburn,Oregon
[|AI|]  Hello Kay! I read your question carefully and understand your concern. I think that your father may have a peripheral facial palsy, which in most of the cases is caused by a viral infection or the cause is not found. Furthermore, I would like to know if he has had problems with expressing himself and answering the questions before, from Alzheimer disease, or it has started now with the face problem. Does he have a slurred speech, or he can't express words? A peripheral face palsy can be caused by a possible stroke in the brain stem, but it is not associated with difficulty expressing, only with slurred speech from the dysfunction of the muscles involved in speech. Other symptoms like paralysis or dizziness would be present in case of a possible stroke.  So, I would advise you to consult with a neurologist, have a good physical examination. If it is just a peripheral face palsy no other examinations are needed, and he can try treatment with steroids and antiviral therapy for some weeks if no contraindications. If other signs are present a brain MRI would be helpful to exclude a possible stroke. Hope to have been of help! Thank you for using Chat Doctor! Greetings!