If you have a loved one experiencing dementia or Alzheimer’s, you might be unsure of what that actually means.
Are they the same thing? Do they require the same treatment and care? Are there any important differences? When it comes to dementia vs Alzheimer’s, what are the important things to know?
While they’re sometimes used interchangeably, dementia and Alzheimer’s aren’t actually the same (even if they present similarly). There are definitely reasons for the confusion though, even for people who know someone who is suffering.
If you’d like to know the differences so you can better understand and help your loved one, you’re in the right place. Here’s a brief explanation of dementia and Alzheimer’s.
What is Dementia?
Believe it or not, dementia isn’t actually a singular condition. It’s actually the name for a group of conditions. Dementia is one name for a variety of brain disorders that can disrupt memory, cause confusion, impact judgment, amongst a host of other potential outcomes.
Contrary to popular belief, severe cognitive decline isn’t “normal” with old age. Many of those problems actually stem from forms of dementia (though there are other potential causes, such as thyroid issues or vitamin deficiencies).
Symptoms of Dementia
Dementia tends to get worse over time; it’s a progressive disease. Symptoms can shift and change, not only in severity but also in type. Someone caring for a loved one with dementia may notice “good days and bad days”, with some days feeling like a faux recovery period, and others, a steep decline. This is not abnormal.
Some standard symptoms of dementia are:
- Poor concentration
- Personality changes
- Memory loss or changes
- Difficulty problem-solving
- Apathy, or an appearance of depression
- Difficulty speaking
- Difficulty completing everyday tasks
There are other symptoms that fall under the dementia umbrella, but they all relate to a general decline in cognitive ability in some form.
Causes and Risk Factors
Dementia is caused by some kind of damage to nerve and brain cells. As there are different forms of dementia, the kind of damage will dictate the kind of dementia that the patient is suffering from.
Aging is a risk factor for dementia, and we currently have no cure for old age. Family history is another unavoidable risk factor. There are risk factors that are avoidable, though. These include vitamin deficiencies, smoking, and excessive use of alcohol. Avoiding unnecessary risks could decrease your chances.
Keeping a healthy and active body is thought to keep the syndrome at bay, though. Similarly, trying to keep your brain active and elastic is also thought to help keep your cognition sharp as you get older. This can potentially stave off any symptoms of dementia.
Diagnosis of Dementia
The diagnosis of dementia isn’t an exact science. Doctors will look through a patient’s medical history and have them perform some cognitive tests and activities to help make their judgment. There will sometimes be medical tests or imaging done to look at the brain itself.
As there are several different types of dementia, even after a dementia diagnosis it can be difficult to know exactly which type the patient is dealing with, and not all doctors are specialized enough to make that determination.
Treatment
As most types of dementia are progressive, there is no cure. When it’s caught early, there are treatments that can be done to help lessen symptoms. Some of these are medical while others are therapeutic. Reducing symptoms is the best way to keep the patient’s quality of life as good as possible while they manage their dementia.
The specific type of treatment may depend on the type of dementia that the patient is suffering from, so it’s important to get specific with a diagnosis.
What is Alzheimer’s?
Alzheimer’s is a specific type of dementia that presents enough kinds of symptoms to be grouped into one category. As a matter of fact, it’s the most common type of dementia, and over half of all dementia patients are also Alzheimer’s patients. This is likely where the confusion comes from.
So, while all Alzheimer’s cases are also dementia cases, not all dementia cases are Alzheimer’s cases. It’s not that there’s a huge difference in dementia vs Alzheimer’s, but rather that calling all Alzheimer’s dementia is inaccurate.
Alzheimer’s happens when plaques (or protein clusters) build up between nerve cells. When nerve cells die, more protein strands, or “tangles”, are released into the brain. This spreads as the disease progresses.
Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s
Doctors generally can’t diagnose Alzheimer’s for certain, but there are certain tests they can give to the patient to be relatively sure.
The tests include general memory and cognition tests but can also include medical imaging through an MRI.
Once the tests are complete and there are images of the brain for the doctor to look at, they can make an educated diagnosis and plan further treatment.
Treatment
There is no cure for Alzheimer’s, and it will get worse over time. That said, with early diagnosis, there are ways to soften the symptoms. Patients can undergo therapy, try medications, and work with doctors on sensory treatments to try to stay healthy and independent for as long as possible.
Dementia vs Alzheimer’s: Do You Know the Difference?
When you’re talking about dementia vs Alzheimer’s, you’re not really looking for differences. One is just more specific than the other. That said, the difference matters, especially when you’re discussing the health of your loved one with someone who is caring for them.
If you have a loved one who is suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s, visit our site. We offer home care to people who need a bit of extra help around the house with their day to day lives, but who still want to maintain their independence.
Our caregivers have dementia care training to help care for your loved ones just as well as you do.
Dementia vs. Alzheimer’s
