What condition is indicated by hippocampal atrophy in a patient?

Hippocampal atrophy is closely associated with Alzheimer's disease, making it the correct answer in this context. The hippocampus is a critical region of the brain involved in memory formation and spatial navigation. In Alzheimer's disease, neurodegeneration specifically affects this area, leading to significant shrinkage or atrophy, which correlates with cognitive decline and memory impairment characteristic of the condition.

In contrast, while conditions such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease can affect brain structures and function, they do not specifically lead to the same pattern of atrophy seen in Alzheimer's. For instance, stroke may cause localized damage based on the affected brain region but does not consistently result in hippocampal atrophy. Multiple sclerosis generally involves demyelination and can lead to brain atrophy over time, but the hippocampus is not specifically targeted in the same way as in Alzheimer's. Similarly, while Parkinson's disease can involve cognitive changes, the predominant neuropathology differs, primarily affecting the basal ganglia rather than causing distinct hippocampal atrophy.

Thus, the definitive association of hippocampal atrophy with Alzheimer's makes it the highlighted condition in this question.