01 Aug Dementia (vs Alzheimer’s)
Dementia (vs Alzheimer’s)
Dementia is an umbrella term that encompasses changes in communication and performance of daily activities. Dementia is a set of symptoms that can have a wide variety of causes. Alzheimer’s Disease results in a form of dementia that can affect communication and daily activities, and more specifically affects thought, memory, and language.
What causes dementia?
Dementia is a set of symptoms that can have a wide variety of causes. A few include:
- Huntington’s Disease
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
- Lewy Body
In some cases, certain drugs, drug interactions, and vitamin deficiencies can also cause dementia. However, the most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s.
How Alzheimer’s is different from dementia
Dementia is a set of symptoms, while Alzheimer’s is able to put a name to what’s causing those symptoms. A person with dementia may or may not have Alzheimer’s, but a person with Alzheimer’s most certainly suffers from dementia. Unfortunately, Alzheimer’s Disease has no cure. A patient who suffers from Alzheimer’s will progressively get worse; on the contrary, it’s possible for a person experiencing dementia to get better, if another treatable disease or condition is causing the symptoms.
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s is characterized by impaired thought, impaired speech, and confusion. Over time, symptoms progress and it can become very difficult for the patient to carry on a conversation or perform everyday tasks. It isn’t uncommon for a patient with Alzheimer’s to become confused, aggressive, or irritable.
Because dementia encompasses a wide range of symptoms that can include those experienced by Alzheimer’s patients, it can be difficult to determine if Alzheimer’s is the cause. Blood tests, mental status evaluations, and brain scans can be very helpful, but because there is no one test that can confirm an Alzheimer’s diagnosis with complete certainty, it is important to be open and honest with the doctor about any and all medications, alcohol use, previous illnesses, and family history.