[mgraczyk]

It's worth noting that the author appears to be in Greece. Assuming he's a non-native speaker, it doesn't really make sense to be "offended" by his misuse of the term.

Maybe a better way to put it would be "We don't typically use 'Alzheimer's' to refer to forgetfulness because it brings up negative emotions for some people."

[oxioxi]

Greek language is more about emotion than content. Hyperbole is used to emphasize meaning. I cannot forget he first time I went to Greece and my aunt kissed me, bit me, and said she was going to eat me. I was 6. I was petrified. It is common in Greece to express disappointment affectionately by saying ' I am going to kill you'. It is our cultural ignorance in the US that makes Americans easy targets for ridicule. If we project ourselves as a superpower to the world, then where indeed are our superpowers of understanding?

[ttsiodras]

It's considered 100% normal in everyday speech here in Greece, to use the name of the disease as an excuse when you forget something. I had absolutely no intent to offend anyone, and my heart goes out to the people fighting this disease - and the ones taking care of them.

I guess it's yet another cultural difference I was not aware of...