A 77-year-old woman shows signs of memory loss, getting lost in familiar places, and difficulty handling money and paying bills. She also appears to be repeating questions. What could be the cause?
These symptoms indicate significant cognitive decline, likely due to dementia. Given the nature of the memory problems, Alzheimer's disease is a strong possibility as it is the most common cause of dementia. However, a definitive diagnosis would require further evaluation, including a detailed medical history, cognitive testing, and neuroimaging to rule out other causes.