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As Alzheimer's Disease progresses, individuals gradually lose access to their autobiographical memories, shared histories, and the ability to recognize their loved ones, profoundly affecting the marital intimacy and interdependence that define spousal relationships. This abstract proposes the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) as a memory-preserving and meaning-making companion for spouse caregivers navigating the ambiguous loss associated with their loved one's cognitive decline. By integrating natural language processing, machine learning, and digital archiving, an AI-driven system could store and organize key life events, personal narratives, shared symbols and memories, and intimate conversations that have shaped the couple's relationship. The AI would function as an interactive repository, enabling caregivers to access and revisit their spouse's recorded thoughts, voices, and reflections, thereby preserving the emotional essence of their bond even as cognitive decline progresses. This technology could offer personalized support through reminiscence-based interactions, guiding caregivers through past conversations and adapting responses based on prior exchanges. Additionally, it could generate therapeutic storytelling experiences, reinforcing the caregiver's emotional connection to their loved one while mitigating feelings of isolation and grief. By capturing the co-constructed meanings and intimate history between partners, AI may serve as both a coping tool during the caregiving journey and a means of maintaining connection as the spouse with dementia gradually loses cognitive function. Ethical considerations-including consent, data privacy, and the psychological effects of AI-mediated memory preservation-must be carefully examined to ensure that such technology complements rather than complicates the caregiving process. This proposal presents an innovative perspective on AI's role in Alzheimer's caregiving, extending beyond clinical and logistical support to address the profound emotional and relational losses experienced by spouse caregivers, ultimately offering a bridge between the past and the present in the face of memory erosion.

As Alzheimer's Disease progresses, individuals gradually lose access to their autobiographical memories, shared histories, and the ability to recognize their loved ones, profoundly affecting the marital intimacy and interdependence that define spousal relationships. This proposes the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) as a memory‐preserving and meaning‐making companion for spouse caregivers navigating the ambiguous loss associated with their loved one's cognitive decline. By integrating natural language processing, machine learning, and digital archiving, an AI‐driven system could store and organize key life events, personal narratives, shared symbols and memories, and intimate conversations that have shaped the couple's relationship. The AI would function as an interactive repository, enabling caregivers to access and revisit their spouse's recorded thoughts, voices, and reflections, thereby preserving the emotional essence of their bond even as cognitive decline progresses. This technology could offer personalized support through reminiscence‐based interactions, guiding caregivers through past conversations and adapting responses based on prior exchanges. Additionally, it could generate therapeutic storytelling experiences, reinforcing the caregiver's emotional connection to their loved one while mitigating feelings of isolation and grief. By capturing the co‐constructed meanings and intimate history between partners, AI may serve as both a coping tool during the caregiving journey and a means of maintaining connection as the spouse with dementia gradually loses cognitive function. Ethical considerations—including consent, data privacy, and the psychological effects of AI‐mediated memory preservation—must be carefully examined to ensure that such technology complements rather than complicates the caregiving process. This proposal presents an innovative perspective on AI's role in Alzheimer's caregiving, extending beyond clinical and logistical support to address the profound emotional and relational losses experienced by spouse caregivers, ultimately offering a bridge between the past and the present in the face of memory erosion.

Background The experience of spouse caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is marked by witnessing the gradual cognitive decline of their loved ones. This journey transforms the nature of their marital relationship, evolving from mutual interdependence to a more unilateral caregiving role. Despite this significant shift, the specific phenomenon of self‐loss among these caregivers remains underexplored in academic research. Method Adopting the symbolic interactionist perspectives, which argue the self is a symbolic and relational process, created and sustained through ongoing social interactions, this research conducts an extensive review of interdisciplinary literature, integrating influential theoretical models, including George Mead’s (1967) interacting self, Peter Berger and Hansfried Kellner’s (1964) theories on marriage and reality construction, Wegner, Giuliano, & Hertel’s (1985) work on cognitive interdependence in close relationships, and Timothy Stephen’s (1986) symbolic interdependence theory. These frameworks collectively inform a new theoretical concept to elucidate the nature of self‐loss experienced by AD spouse caregivers. Result The proposed theoretical perspective suggests that AD significantly transforms the intimate reality previously co‐constructed by marital partners. The deterioration of the AD‐affected spouse’s language and memory capacities erodes the symbolic coherence that once underpinned the marital relationship. This leads to a profound disruption in the couple’s shared reality, which is essential for affirming and supporting each partner’s self‐identity, beliefs, and values. As a consequence, spouse caregivers not only witness the gradual erosion of their partner’s self but also experience a profound disruption in their own sense of self, particularly in aspects deeply intertwined with their marital identity. Conclusion This theoretical exploration offers significant implications at societal, community, interpersonal, and intrapersonal levels. By enriching existing literature, it aids policymakers, researchers, healthcare organizations, and families affected by AD in comprehending the interpersonal impact of the disease on spouse caregivers. Furthermore, this perspective sheds light on the emotional, mental, and psychological challenges faced by caregivers, underscoring the critical need for robust social support systems. Consequently, this research could inform the development of targeted intervention programs and health policies, thereby supporting spouse caregivers who play a crucial role in the healthcare system and in the lives of their loved ones.