UFMA student graduates with Pedagogy degree despite Alzheimer's diagnosis

Conceição de Maria Sousa Soares, a 71-year-old student, has graduated with a degree in Pedagogy from the Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA) in Imperatriz. Her eight-year academic journey was significantly impacted by an Alzheimer's diagnosis received in 2022.

To manage the challenges of recent memory loss, Conceição utilized notebooks to record dates, appointments, and professor instructions. She completed her final project, titled “Relatos e memórias da escolarização de uma mulher piauiense,” which served as a portfolio of her educational experiences. Her achievement was celebrated during a graduation ceremony held on August 19 and 20, where faculty and family members honored her persistence in the face of cognitive difficulties.