Similarities Between Alzheimer’s And Dementia

Alzheimers And Parkinsons Disease: Similarities And Differences

James M. Ellison, MD, MPH

Swank Center for Memory Care and Geriatric Consultation, ChristianaCare Configure

Explore the similarities and differences between two common degenerative brain disorders.

Ron brings his 78-year-old wife, Sara, to the Memory Clinic, with a pressing concern. Sara is forgetting things more often even though her Parkinsons disease symptoms appear to be under good control with standard medications, healthy diet, and plenty of physical activity. She is losing her train of thought mid-sentence and she became very confused about where she was while driving the well-traveled route to her daughters home. Is she developing dementia? Is that a part of Parkinsons disease? Or is she developing Alzheimers disease? And what are the differences between Alzheimers and Parkinsons?

Living With Parkinson Disease

These measures can help you live well with Parkinson disease:

• An exercise routine can help keep muscles flexible and mobile. Exercise also releases natural brain chemicals that can improve emotional well-being.
• High protein meals can benefit your brain chemistry
• Physical, occupational, and speech therapy can help your ability to care for yourself and communicate with others
• If you or your family has questions about Parkinson disease, want information about treatment, or need to find support, you can contact the American Parkinson Disease Association.

Alzheimers Disease Prion Diseases Share Similarities

Dr. John Collinge

Fatal brain disorders called prion diseases might provide insight into the cause of Alzheimers disease, said Dr. John Collinge at a recent Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series talk in Lipsett Amphitheater.

There are more and more similarities between what we see in prion disease and what were seeing in Alzheimers disease, said Collinge, professor of neurology at University College London , director of the United Kingdom Medical Council prion unit, director of the UCL Institute of Prion Diseases, director of the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgerys United Kingdom National Prion Clinic and visiting professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School.

A prion is an abnormal form of a naturally occurring protein that has the ability to catalyze the conversion of the normal form into the same abnormal form. Prions have been implicated in several diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, which affect animals and humans, Collinge said. Over time, prions accumulate and damage the brain.

Symptoms of prion disease include changes in behavior, rapid onset of dementia and movement problems. Prion diseases are usually rapidly progressive and always fatal, according to the CDC. Most cases of prion disease occur randomly, Collinge explained. Certain host mutations can increase the risk of getting the disease.

Weve seen patients with incubation periods up to 60 years, which is quite extraordinary, Collinge said.

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Similarities Between Alzheimers And Long Covid Found In New Study

New research led by scientists from Australias La Trobe University suggests proteins generated by the SARS-CoV-2 virus can form into aggregations similar to those found in the brains of patients with Alzheimers disease. The researchers hypothesize this mechanism may underpin the persistent neurological symptoms such as brain fog seen in many patients suffering from long COVID.

Recent estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found approximately one in five adults may be experiencing some form of lingering symptoms from COVID-19. In the United Kingdom alone there are around two million people officially diagnosed with long COVID. The most prevalent symptoms associated with long COVID are neurological and can include fatigue, anxiety, headache, or more generally brain fog.

Many of these symptoms can resemble the earliest stages of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimers or Parkinsons, which has led some researchers to begin investigating the similarities between long COVID and neurodegenerative disease. A new study published in Nature Communications has presented evidence suggesting the virus that causes COVID-19 can generate protein aggregations similar to what is seen in the brains of patients with dementia.

It may be possible that existing drugs may be used to treat the brain fog that affects a significant portion of people who go on to experience long-COVID having been infected with SARS-CoV-2, he added.

Key Points: Dementia Vs Alzheimers

Dementia is a clinical syndrome characterized by cognitive impairment, whereas Alzheimers disease is one of the many factors that may result in dementia. Other key differences between Alzheimers disease and dementia include:

• Alzheimers disease is a progressive disorder that cannot be treated
• Many types of dementia are irreversible and terminal, but reversible dementias can be potentially treated
• All dementias show core symptoms of cognitive impairment and some neuropsychiatric symptoms like agitation, anxiety, etc.
• Alzheimers disease can be distinguished from other dementias according to qualitative differences in symptoms as well as the progression of the condition
• Alzheimers disease is characterized by the presence of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.

Understanding the differences in Alzheimers disease vs. dementia is vital for the early diagnosis and optimal treatment of any particular type of dementia.

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Causes Of Alzheimers Disease

In people with Alzheimers disease, brain cells die, and connections between brain cells break down. In advanced Alzheimers, the brain actually shrinks. Changes in the brain may occur a decade or more before symptoms start. One specific difference between Alzheimers and other dementia conditions is that the entire brain is usually affected with Alzheimers, while only certain areas of the brain are affected in other conditions.

Medical professionals dont think there is only one cause of Alzheimers disease. They believe it develops through many factors, including environment, lifestyle, and genetics. Some factors like age, family history, and heredity cant be changed. However, new studies suggest there are other causes we can influence, like healthy life choices.

Comparing Dementia And Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease and dementia aren’t terms that can be used interchangeably. Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia, but not all forms of dementia are considered Alzheimer’s disease. Rather than being a specific disease, dementia describes a certain set of symptoms. These symptoms impact day-to-day functioning, the ability to communicate, and overall memory. There are multiple types of dementia that have been identified, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most common. Dementia can also manifest as a symptom of other conditions.

The symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease have a strong overlap, but it’s important to distinguish between them for proper treatment. Different types of dementia are treated differently, and the approach to Alzheimer’s treatment is different from many other conditions because it’s a progressive disease.

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Dementia And Alzheimers Treatment

Dementia may be categorized as either reversible or irreversible, with reversible dementia being able to be treated and potentially cured. There are no cures for progressive dementias, but the symptoms can be managed with therapy. Alzheimers disease is irreversible and has no cure. Since progressive dementias like Alzheimers disease share common symptoms, many of the treatments for Alzheimers disease and other dementias are similar.

What Is Parkinson Disease

Parkinson disease is a movement disorder. It can cause the muscles to tighten and become rigid This makes it hard to walk and do other daily activities. People with Parkinsons disease also have tremors and may develop cognitive problems, including memory loss and dementia.

Parkinson disease is most common in people who are older than 50. The average age at which it occurs is 60. But some younger people may also get Parkinson disease. When it affects someone younger than age 50, it’s called early-onset Parkinson disease. You may be more likely to get early-onset Parkinson disease if someone in your family has it. The older you are, the greater your risk of developing Parkinson disease. It’s also much more common in men than in women.

Parkinson disease is a chronic and progressive disease. It doesn’t go away and continues to get worse over time.

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Causes Of Lewy Body Dementia Vs Alzheimer’s

Lewy body dementia is caused by the abnormal buildup of proteins, called Lewy bodies, in the brain. When clumps of these proteins accumulate, nerves in the brain start to lose their function and eventually die. The damage in the brain is widespread and affects many domains of thinking and functioning.

Alzheimer’s is caused by the abnormal buildup of proteins called amyloid that leads to the formation of plaques in the brain. The abnormal twisting of another protein called tau causes neurofibrillary tangles that block signals between nerve cells. Over time, the progressive damage will kill the cells.

What Are The Complications Of Parkinson Disease

Parkinson disease causes physical symptoms at first. Problems with cognitive function, including forgetfulness and trouble with concentration, may arise later. As the disease gets worse with time, many people develop dementia. This can cause profound memory loss and makes it hard to maintain relationships.

Parkinson disease dementia can cause problems with:

• Speaking and communicating with others
• Problem solving
• Paying attention

If you have Parkinson disease and dementia, in time, you likely won’t be able to live by yourself. Dementia affects your ability to care of yourself, even if you can still physically do daily tasks.

Experts don’t understand how or why dementia often occurs with Parkinson disease. Its clear, though, that dementia and problems with cognitive function are linked to changes in the brain that cause problems with movement. As with Parkinson disease, dementia occurs when nerve cells degenerate, leading to chemical changes in the brain. Parkinson disease dementia may be treated with medicines also used to treat Alzheimer’s disease, another type of dementia.

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What Is Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a definitive disease that causes the collection of symptoms known as dementia. Not every type of dementia is progressive, but Alzheimer’s disease is. Alzheimer’s disease progresses slowly and causes cognitive function and memory to become increasingly more impaired. Researchers are still trying to determine the cause, and there’s no cure right now. Over five million individuals in the United States currently have Alzheimer’s disease. Younger individuals can get it, in which case the diagnosis is early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

However, the majority of individuals don’t exhibit symptoms until after they are sixty years old. When an individual develops the disease after they are eighty years old, the time from diagnosis until death can shorten to only three years. But younger individuals often live much longer following their diagnosis. Alzheimer’s disease causes brain damage for years before the onset of visible symptoms. The condition causes abnormal deposits of protein to create plaques within the brain. This causes cell connections to break, and the cells slowly die.

Number Of People Affected

Parkinson’s disease is thought to affect about 2 percent of Americans over 65. Of those, about 50 to 80 percent will go on to develop Parkinson’s-related dementia.1 The Parkinson’s Foundation estimates that nearly 1 million Americans will be living with Parkinson’s by 2020. The disease affects 1.5 times more men than women.7

Approximately 5.8 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease. That number is expected to increase to 14 million by 2050.8 There is little difference between the numbers of men and women who develop Alzheimer’s, but there are more women with the disease because women tend to live longer than men.3

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How Is Parkinson Disease Diagnosed

Parkinson disease can be hard to diagnose. No single test can identify it. Parkinson can be easily mistaken for another health condition. A healthcare provider will usually take a medical history, including a family history to find out if anyone else in your family has Parkinson’s disease. He or she will also do a neurological exam. Sometimes, an MRI or CT scan, or some other imaging scan of the brain can identify other problems or rule out other diseases.

Diagnosis Of Alzheimer’s Disease

A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease can typically be reached when diagnosing what’s causing a person’s dementia symptoms. Doctors can come to a conclusive diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease by conducting a blood test to check your beta-amyloid levels.

Beta-amyloid is a protein found to abnormally build up in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease which means its symptoms worsen over time.

Early diagnosis is key to treating the disease efficiently and extending a person’s life expectancy with this condition.

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Treating Alzheimers Disease Vs Other Types Of Dementia

Neither Alzheimerâs nor most other types of dementia have a cure. Doctors focus treatments on managing symptoms and keeping the disease from getting worse.

Some of the treatments for dementia and Alzheimerâs overlap.

• Cholinesterase inhibitors can help with memory loss in certain types of dementia and Alzheimerâs.
• Glutamate inhibitors help with learning and memory in both dementia and Alzheimerâs.
• Sleep medications may help with sleep changes.
• Antidepressants can help with depression symptoms.
• Antipsychotic medications may help with behavior changes.

Some types of dementia respond to treatment, depending on what is causing it. Your doctor may recommend:

• Stopping the use of drugs and alcohol
• Treating a B12 deficiency
• Getting blood sugar under control

Show Sources

Alzheimerâs Association: âCreutzfeldt-Jakob Disease,â âFrontotemporal Dementia,â âTypes of Dementia,â âWhat is Alzheimerâs?â

Alzheimerâs Disease International: âWorld Alzheimerâs Report 2015.â

Alzheimerâs Society: âSight, perception and hallucinations in dementia.â

BrightFocus Foundation: âWhatâs the Difference Between Dementia & Alzheimerâs Disease?â âTreatments for Alzheimerâs Disease.â

Dementia Society of America: âDementia FAQs.â

Fisher Center for Alzheimerâs Research Foundation: âDementia vs. Alzheimerâs.â

Visiting Nurse Association of Ohio: âAlzheimerâs Versus Dementia.â

Mayo Clinic: âAlzheimerâs Disease,â âDementia.â

What Causes Parkinson Disease

Parkinson disease arises from decreased dopamine production in the brain. The absence of dopamine makes it hard for the brain to coordinate muscle movements. Low dopamine also contributes to mood and cognitive problems later in the course of the disease. Experts don’t know what triggers the development of Parkinson disease most of the time. Early onset Parkinson disease is often inherited and is the result of certain gene defects.

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Lewy Body Dementia Vs Alzheimer’s Disease

Lewy body dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are similar but not the same. This starts with how the features of dementia differ for each disorder:

• Lewy body dementia is a form of dementia with characteristics of Parkinson’s disease that affects executive function , speed of thinking, memory, movement, and moods. LBD can cause visual hallucinations, problems with attention and alertness, and movement problems such as tremors and stiffness.
• Alzheimer’s disease is the more common form of dementia that primarily affects language, behavior, and memory. It mainly manifests with profound memory loss, such as trouble recalling events, recognizing people, naming objects, or learning new information.

LBD and Alzheimer’s disease can appear similar in the early stages, and it is not uncommon for someone with LBD to be mistakenly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at first.

The underlying causes of Alzheimer’s and LBD can and often do overlap. As a result, a person with LBD might experience Alzheimer-type changes in their brain, resulting in shared characteristics and symptoms referred to as mixed dementia.

The main differences between LBD and Alzheimer’s can be summarized in the following chart:

Similarities And Differences In Symptoms

There are several similarities and differences in symptoms between the two conditions. Alzheimer’s disease has all the symptoms of dementia, but it also has additional criteria of its own. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease can both lead to impaired communication, impaired memory, and improved cognitive function and problem-solving capacity. Additional Alzheimer’s disease symptoms include depression, apathy, disorientation, impaired judgment, and difficulty with remembering recent conversations or events. Dementia doesn’t typically impair short-term memory, since short-term memory is stored and recalled differently from long-term memory. Dementia also doesn’t cause emotional symptoms like depression and apathy. Alzheimer’s disease causes these symptoms because of progressive damage to the emotional processing parts of the brain.

Other types of dementia may not include emotional involvement and short-term memory impairment. Alzheimer’s disease patients may also experience behavioral changes and confusion that aren’t part of the overarching dementia umbrella. In the later stages of the illness, Alzheimer’s disease can make it difficult to walk, swallow, and speak. The type of dementia an individual has is diagnosed by evaluating these non-dementia symptoms to see what diagnosis fits best.

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Treatment Of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive and terminal disease that currently has no known cure. The good news is that there are treatment options that reduce the severity of its symptoms and improve the functioning of a person with this condition.

The following drugs have been approved by the FDA specifically for the treatment of different symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease:

• Cholinesterase inhibitors: These are used to improve symptoms of cognitive decline and dementia in people with Alzheimer’s. These include drugs such as Exelon , Aricept , and Razadyne
• Aduhelm : This works by eliminating amyloid proteins, which have been found to be built up in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease and potentially cause the condition.
• Namenda : This is typically used to treat moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease symptoms. It’s thought to work by regulating a chemical messenger called glutamate, which helps rescue its harmful effects on the brain.