> do have long-term memory from their training and thus act very much like someone suffering from Alzheimer’s.

Your 8th grade science teacher may be disappointed too. Drawing such analogies using unequivocal language "very much like" disregards the limited understanding of LLMs, the false analogies between computer and biological systems, and the complex nature of Alzheimer's disease (no it is not just short term memory loss, not even close, for example ability to interpret images)

> for example ability to interpret images

I'm pretty sure blind people are conscious despite that.