Is There A Difference Between Dementia And Alzheimer’s

More Types Of Dementia

One important distinction to make when it comes to dementia and Alzheimer’s is that some types of dementia can be reversed, but dementia caused by Alzheimer’s is not one of them. Dementia can also be caused by heavy metal or pesticide poisoning, infections, endocrine imbalances , and even reactions to medications. These types of dementia can be reversible, but progressive dementias are not.

What Is Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimers disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting up to 70% of all people with dementia. It was first recorded in 1907 by Dr Alois Alzheimer. Dr Alzheimer reported the case of Auguste Deter, a middle-aged woman with dementia and specific changes in her brain. For the next 60 years Alzheimers disease was considered a rare condition that affected people under the age of 65. It was not until the 1970s that Dr Robert Katzman declared that “senile dementia” and Alzheimers disease were the same condition and that neither were a normal part of aging.

Alzheimers disease can be either;sporadic;or;familial.

Sporadic;Alzheimer’s disease can affect adults at any age, but usually occurs after age 65 and is the most common form of Alzheimer’s disease.

Familial;Alzheimers disease is a very rare genetic condition, caused by a mutation in one of several genes. The presence of mutated genes means that the person will eventually develop Alzheimer’s disease, usually in their 40’s or 50’s.

The Healthy Human Brain

Behind the ears and temples are the temporal lobes of the brain. These regions process speech and working memory, and also higher emotions such as empathy, morality and regret. Beneath the forebrain are the more primitive brain regions such as the limbic system. The limbic system is a structure that is common to all mammals and processes our desires and many emotions. Also in the limbic system is the hippocampus a region that is vital for forming new memories.

Is There Treatment Available

At present there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. However, one group of drugs called cholinergeric drugs appears to be providing some temporary improvement in cognitive functioning for some people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.

Drugs can also be prescribed for secondary symptoms such as restlessness or depression or to help the person with dementia sleep better.

Community support is available for the person with Alzheimer’s disease, their families and carers. This support can make a positive difference to managing dementia. Dementia Australia provides support, information and counselling for people affected by dementia. Dementia Australia also aims to provide up-to-date information about drug treatments.

Further help

For more information contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500.

For a range of books and videos contact our;Library.

For advice, common sense approaches and practical strategies on the issues most commonly raised about dementia, read our Help Sheets.

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The Onset Age Can Be Different

The Mayo Clinic says that a whopping 95-percent of Alzheimers patients are aged 65-or older .

However, as noted earlier, some other diseases that can develop earlier in life can lead to dementia, so symptoms can show up in middle age. However, among younger people , Alzheimers is still the most prevalent form of dementia, followed by vascular dementia, notes youngdementiauk.org.

Alzheimers Is Not Reversible

Alzheimers.net explains that once someone is diagnosed with Alzheimers, the outlook is quite grim. It is degenerative and incurable at this time, notes the source. Sources note the average life expectancy of a patient following a diagnosis of Alzheimers is about 8-10-years.

Meanwhile, adds the source, there are some causes of dementia , such as a negative drug interaction or a vitamin deficiency, that can actually be reversed with the right diagnosis and treatment. Until a proper diagnosis is made, the best approach to any dementia is engagement, communication and loving care, adds the site.

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Now Dementia On The Other Hand Has Several Different Stages Including The Following :

Stage 1

The imaging techniques such as computed tomography scan of the brain might show some changes but the person does not exhibit any of the cognitive signs and symptoms.

Stage 2

• The person starts forgetting words or misplacing objects; this may go unnoticed by people around them.
• It should be remembered that this stage might also occur due to the normal;aging;process.

Stage 3

• The person suffers from short-term memory;lossforgetting what they just read and the names of new acquaintances.
• They cant make plans or organize things as earlier.
• They might frequently start misplacing and losing things.

Stage 4

• The person starts to lose interest in the things that they used to enjoy and avoids meeting people and, attending social events.
• Calculating simple expenses and adding up the financial bills becomes difficult.
• They become disoriented to time and placethey forget or figure out the present time, date, and place
• The signs and symptoms of cognitive decline become clear to everyone around the patient.
• Clinical diagnosis of dementia is most likely to be made at this stage.

Stage 5

• The person experiences major memory disturbances such as forgetting their phone number and address.
• They may forget how to bathe and face trouble while choosing and wearing clothes.

Stage 6 :;

Stage 7 :;

Here is the link to the event: Any questions, please call Janet at 393-3141 or email at

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What Is The Difference Between Dementia And Alzheimers Disease

Dementia is caused by different diseases that affect the brain. Alzheimers disease is the most common of these diseases. Some other common types of dementia include vascular dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies.

This means that dementia is not a disease in its own right. Dementia is the name for a group of symptoms that commonly include problems with memory, thinking, problem solving, language and perception.

While there is a relationship between dementia and Alzheimers disease,;there are key differences between the two.

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Myth #: Dementia And Alzheimers Only Occur In Seniors

Its true Over 70% of people with Dementia or Alzheimers disease are over the age of 75, and your chances of developing the disease do increase as you age. However, while most people who develop the disease are Seniors, Young Onset Dementia does exist and can affect people 65 and younger.

Young Onset Dementia is very rare a much smaller percentage of people under the age of 65 develop the symptoms . Still, its crucial to be mindful of the disease in case you or a loved one starts to exhibit the symptoms.

Are There Differences Between Lewy Body Dementia And Alzheimers

People with Lewy body dementia can have Alzheimers symptoms. However,;Alzheimers patients generally do not experience hallucinations until the later stages. In contrast, those with Lewy body dementia usually experience symptoms like;paranoia and hallucinations early on. Additionally, they could have;difficulty with motor skills, sleeping, thinking or reasoning. Their memory usually declines more rapidly than those with Alzheimers. Unlike Alzheimers patients, those with LBD have temporary moments of clarity. Symptoms like lethargy can vary from day-to-day or even within the day, Dr. Sarah Kremen said. Sometimes patients seem crystal-clear in their thinking and sometimes they seem very confused. But this is not seen in all patients. Alternatively,;Alzheimers patients do not go in and out of this state. People with Lewy body dementia can also have Alzheimers pathology.

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What Causes Alzheimers Disease

Alzheimers disease takes place when proteins amass in the brain, interfering with brain cells ability to function normally. Unfortunately, researchers have not yet determined the cause of this protein build up.

That said, Alzheimers disease has been known to run in families. While there is no Alzheimers gene, scientists have identified three genes that are often associated with the disease.

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The Difference Between Alzheimer’s And Dementia

The main difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia is that Alzheimer’s is a disease, and dementia is not. Instead, it’s an umbrella term for a group of symptoms that includes memory loss, a decline in language and comprehension skills, a reduction in judgment skills, and the inability to think through tasks, such as finding your way home from the store, preparing a meal, or getting dressed.

Alzheimer’s, on the other hand, is a disease that causes this set of symptoms. Currently, there are more than five million people in the United States who have Alzheimer’s disease, and scientists predict that this number will increase to 14 million by 2050.

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Whats The Difference Between Dementia And Alzheimer’s Disease

Dr. Larry Lawhorne discusses the difference between dementia and Alzheimers disease. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.

A very common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, accounting for 40 to 60 percent of all cases of dementia. But there many causes of dementia, such as vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, normal pressure hydrocephalus and frontotemporal dementia. The most common after Alzheimer’s disease is vascular dementia. Vascular dementia occurs in a setting of high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol and other cardiovascular diseases. While Alzheimer’s patients lose function slowly, people with vascular dementia lose their ability to remember and think in a step-wise progression.

Making a diagnosis can be complicated because now we think there is mixed dementia. Someone may be on his way to developing Alzheimer’s disease but may also have enough vascular risk factors to have vascular dementia, too. Lewy body dementia is an interesting and distinctive disorder. People with Lewy body dementia often first experience visual hallucinations. They may also have some movement disorder. They may have a little bit of tremor. They may have problems walking. People with Lewy body dementia are also very sensitive to antipsychotic medicines, which tend to make them much more unsteady.

Learn more:

How Does Alzheimer’s Disease Progress

The rate of progression of the disease varies from person to person.

However, the disease does lead eventually to complete dependence and finally death, usually from another illness such as pneumonia. A person may live from three to twenty years with Alzheimer’s disease, with the average being seven to ten years.

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Alzheimers Vs Dementia What Is Alzheimers Disease

Alzheimers is a disease that typically strikes patients over the age of 65. Only 5 percent of the worlds population with Alzheimers is under the age of 65 and those people are in their 40s and 50s. This is a progressive disease; it starts off slowly, perhaps even going unnoticed for months or years. Forgetfulness is a common symptom of Alzheimers; a patient may begin forgetting small things such as the name of his street or the names of people he has known for years. Eventually, the disease worsens and memory loss becomes more prevalent. In late stage Alzheimers, patients become unable to carry on a conversation or remember anything from their lives. They will not recognize themselves in the mirror or even their own children. Life expectancy for an Alzheimers patient is approximately 8 years after their symptoms become noticeable to others, though each case is unique.

Dispatchhealth Is Here To Help

Whether you or a loved one is suffering from Alzheimers disease or another form of dementia, you can count on DispatchHealth to provide convenient and comprehensive medical care. Schedule an appointment with us through our website, mobile app, or via phone, and our friendly and knowledgeable team will arrive at your home within a few hours.;

For life-threatening and time-sensitive injuries and illnesses, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. DispatchHealth shouldnt be used in a life-threatening emergency and doesnt replace a primary care provider.

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Myth #: Alzheimers And Dementia Are The Same

Dementia is the term to describe symptoms such as memory loss, behavioural changes, and other cognitive functioning. Alzheimers is a specific disease that affects 60-80% of all Dementia cases.

Dementia isnt a natural part of ageing and is caused by damaged brain cells, affecting their ability to communicate in the brain. This lack of communication can negatively affect behaviour, thinking, and emotions, and depending on the cause, can create a disease such as Alzheimers.

Warning Signs And Symptoms

The symptoms of dementia range in severity, and they also vary depending on the area of the brain that the condition affects. The most

• walking around for no apparent reason
• inappropriate behaviors, such as social and sexual disinhibition

Symptoms can take time to appear, and significant damage may be present before a person visits a doctor. This may make treatment more challenging.

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Alzheimers Vs Dementia Symptoms

Because Alzheimers and other dementias cause cognitive impairment, symptoms for the various types of dementia often overlap.

Generally, Alzheimers and other dementias cause:

• Impaired memory
• A decline in the ability to think and use reason and judgement
• Impaired speaking and communication ability

Alzheimers symptoms typically include:

• Loss of short-term memory

What Is Vascular Dementia

Vascular dementia is the second most common form of dementia. It accounts for about 10;percent of dementia cases. The term refers to issues with memory, reasoning or judgment. Vascular dementia is caused by conditions that;harm blood vessels or limit blood flow to the brain. A stroke can cause brain damage and vascular dementia symptoms.;More often, someone experiences mini-strokes that go unnoticed by doctors. The mini-strokes cause;their cognition to slowly deteriorate. Conditions like;diabetes or high blood pressure could have the same effect. Nevertheless, symptoms differ depending on what area of the brain is affected. Common symptoms that appear after a stroke include memory loss or trouble communicating.

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Myth #: Dementia And Alzheimers Disease Are Genetic

While some rarer forms of Dementia have been known to pass down through generations, most Dementia types, including Alzheimers, arent inherited. However, there are rarer types of the disease that can be more hereditary than others. For example, about 40% of people with Frontotemporal Dementia have a family history of inheriting the disease.

If there is Dementia in your family, talk to your doctor about the disease and how it could impact your life. Theyll be able to discuss your chances of getting the illness and what you can do to slow down the process.

How Common Is Dementia

Research shows there are more than 850,000 people in the UK who have dementia. One in;14 people over the age of 65 have dementia, and the condition affects 1 in 6 people over 80.

The number of people with dementia is increasing because people are living longer. It is estimated that by 2025, the number of people with dementia in the UK will be more than 1 million.

Further information:

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Memory Loss Related To Medical Conditions

Of course, its also possible that your parent is experiencing memory problems from something entirely different from dementia or age-related memory loss. There are several medical conditions that could be causing their recent fogginess.

According to the University of Michigan, these are some of the health conditions that can cause memory loss in older adults:

• Infections, such as a urinary tract infection, respiratory infection, or sepsis.
• Asthma or COPD.
• Mental health problems, such as depression.
• Thyroid problems.
• Prescription medication side effects.

This is why its so important to encourage your parent to speak with their doctor if you notice them displaying memory loss. It could be dementia, in which case youll be able to form a plan with your parent for future care, or it could be a health condition that needs to be properly treated.

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Is It Possible For Younger People To Get Dementia Or Alzheimers Disease

As we age, our risk of contracting dementia heightens. However, although not as common, it is still possible for younger people to develop the syndrome. This is known as early-onset dementia.

Symptoms of Alzheimers disease in most cases begin after a person turns 60 years old. Similarly to dementia, younger people can also develop the disease. For people over the age of 80, the time from diagnosis to death can be as little as 3 years. On the other hand, younger sufferers can live with the disease for a lot longer.

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Alzheimers And Dementia Causes

Dementia is more commonly developed with aging. Many disorders can cause dementia, including degenerative diseases such as Parkinsons and Huntingtons. Each condition causes damage to a different set of brain cells, but the final result is always dementia. Alzheimers disease accounts for about 60%70% of all cases of dementia. Other causes of dementia could be a stroke, vascular disease, depression, chronic drug use, infections , etc.

If a patient possesses more than one type of dementia, that is called mixed dementia. Often, people with mixed dementia have numerous conditions that may add to it. Data onAlzheimers vs. dementia causes reveal that, unlike dementia, in Alzheimers, the precise cause of the disease is unidentified. However, a recent study demonstrated that those with type 2 diabetes in the elderly increases the risk of developing Alzheimers.

But what causes the most common type of dementia? Looking at thedifference between Alzheimers and vascular dementia , we come to the conclusion that while vascular dementia is often caused by an acute event, like a stroke, or transient ischemic attack, what causes Alzheimers isnt fully understood. However, some contributing factors include genetics, lifestyle, and other environmental factors.

Whats The Difference Between Dementia And Alzheimers Disease

Dr. Larry Lawhorne discusses the difference between dementia and Alzheimers disease. Click play to watch the video or read the transcript.

A very common cause of dementia is Alzheimers disease, accounting for 40 to 60 percent of all cases of dementia. But there many causes of dementia, such as vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, normal pressure hydrocephalus and frontotemporal dementia. The most common after Alzheimers disease is vascular dementia. Vascular dementia occurs in a setting of high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol and other cardiovascular diseases. While Alzheimers patients lose function slowly, people with vascular dementia lose their ability to remember and think in a step-wise progression.

Making a diagnosis can be complicated because now we think there is mixed dementia. Someone may be on his way to developing Alzheimers disease but may also have enough vascular risk factors to have vascular dementia, too. Lewy body dementia is an interesting and distinctive disorder. People with Lewy body dementia often first experience visual hallucinations. They may also have some movement disorder. They may have a little bit of tremor. They may have problems walking. People with Lewy body dementia are also very sensitive to antipsychotic medicines, which tend to make them much more unsteady.

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