Is Dementia and Alzheimer’s the Same Thing? Understanding the Key Differences

 

The word dementia is used interchangeably with Alzheimer's disease, but they are not the same. They are closely related but knowing the difference is important to be able to spot signs and symptoms, get the right medical attention, and to help family members and friends living with cognitive decline.


 




If you have ever asked, Is dementia and Alzheimer's the same? Then this guide will help you understand the differences, common symptoms, causes and treatment in simple and easy to understand terms.

 

 What Is Dementia?

 

Dementia isn't one disease. Rather, it is an umbrella term for a set of symptoms that impact memory, thinking, reasoning, communication, and the capacity to execute daily activities.

 

Dementia occurs when cells within the brain are impaired and when various areas of the brain are unable to communicate effectively.

 

Typical signs of a dementia are:

 

·         Memory loss

·         Difficulty concentrating

·         Ambiguity of time and location

·         Problems with language

·         Poor judgment

·         Mood or personality changes.

 

These symptoms tend to worsen over time and can hinder functioning.

 

 Alzheimer's Disease: What is it?

 

The most frequent cause of dementia is Alzheimer's disease which is estimated to account for 60-80% of the cases of dementia.

 

It's an progressive brain illness which progressively damages the nerve cells, impacting one's memory, thinking and actions. As time goes on, symptoms intensify and are more difficult to accomplish every day.

 

Although each person has a different experience with Alzheimer's disease, it typically happens in stages, starting with minor memory changes and ending with major confusion.

 

 Dementia vs. Alzheimer's: What is the difference?

 

To understand the relationship, the easiest way is to use this:

 

 Memory and thinking symptoms constitute the umbrella term, dementia.

 One particular disease that leads to dementia is Alzheimer's.

 

Imagine it is like this:

 

·         Heart disease is a type of disease.

·         One of those diseases is a heart attack.

 

Likewise, Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia but not all dementia is Alzheimer's.

 

 There are other forms of dementia.There are other dementias.

 

There are many kinds of dementia, but Alzheimer's is just one. Other commonly used ones are:

 

 Vascular Dementia

 

Results from decreased blood flow to the brain, which is often caused by strokes or blood vessel disease.

 

 Lewy Body Dementia

 

Linked to abnormal deposits of proteins in the brain and can lead to trouble with movement, seeing things that aren't there, and problems with attention.

 

 Frontotemporal Dementia

 

Mainly attacks the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, which can cause the patient to change personalities, behave differently and speak differently before memory issues begin.

 

 Mixed Dementia

 

In some cases, people may have more than one type of dementia at the same time, e.g. Alzheimer's disease with vascular dementia.

 

 The following are early symptoms to look out for.

 

Alzheimer's disease and other dementias can have mild symptoms at first.

 

Some of the first indicators are:

 

·         Often loses track of what he or she has just said

·         Misplacing everyday items

·         The inability to communicate effectively.

·         Repeating questions

·         Becoming confused in familiar places

·         Difficulty organizing and/or troubleshooting

 

These symptoms can progressively get worse over months or years.

 

 What Causes Alzheimer's Disease?

 

Alzheimer's is thought to be caused by a mix of lifestyle, environmental and genetic factors and age.

 

Changes within the brain include:

 

·         Abnormal protein deposits

·         Damage to nerve cells:

·         The loss of connections in the brain.

·         Decline in brain tissue as it shrinks as the years go on.

 

While age is the main risk factor, Alzheimer's disease is not a normal aspect of aging.

 

 Is it possible to protect against dementia?

 

At this time, there is no certain method to prevent Alzheimer's disease or any type of dementia. But making healthy lifestyle changes can lower the risk of cognitive decline.



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