What’s The Difference Between Alzheimer’s Or Dementia

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
• Tumor removal

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

Cleveland Clinic: âDementia.â

What Is Difference Between Senility And Dementia

senilitydementiaDementiain a

• Your local community health centre
• National Dementia Helpline Dementia Australia Tel. 1800 100 500
• Aged Care Assessment Services Tel. 1300 135 090
• My Aged Care 1800 200 422
• Cognitive Dementia and Memory Service clinics Tel. 1300 135 090
• Carers Victoria Tel. 1800 242 636
• Commonwealth Carelink and Respite Centres Australian Government Tel. 1800 052 222
• Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service Tel. 1800 699 799 for 24-hour telephone advice for carers and care workers

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

Dont Miss: How To Move A Parent With Dementia To Assisted Living

Recommended Reading: Does Prevagen Work For Dementia

Treatment Of Alzheimers Disease

There is no cure for Alzheimers, but options that can help control the symptoms of the disease include:

• Behavior-altering drugs, such as antipsychotics
• Medications for memory loss, including cholinesterase inhibitor donepezil and rivastigmine and memantine
• Alternative therapies designed to enhance brain function or overall health, such as coconut oil or fish oil
• Sleep-altering drugs
• Medications for depression

Aged Care Employee Day #thanksforcaring

Aged Care Employee Day, on Saturday August 7, is an opportunity for aged care residents and their families to say thanks for caring to the dedicated 360,000 aged care staff all around Australia.

According to National Seniors CEO, Professor John McCallum, aged care workers have a strong commitment to providing quality care and recent evidence suggests the quality of this care is improving.

People do this sort of work because they enjoy caring for older people and caring for people who have needs, Professor McCallum said.

So, if you see an aged care worker over the coming weeks, why not show them you care, by saying, Thanks for caring.

You can get involved by promoting the #Thanksforcaring on social media or download and print posters from the website in the lead up to the big day.

You can also post videos on the website if you are unable to enter an aged care facility due to COVID restrictions.

Alzheimers disease is the most common condition that causes dementia.

People who have Alzheimers disease have abnormal structures, called plaques and tangles, build up in the brain. These disrupt nerve cells and affect the way they communicate with each other. Eventually the nerve cells die.

Alzheimers usually begins with mild memory loss. Other symptoms include:

• having trouble recalling events,
• trouble finding the right word,
• trouble solving problems,
• difficulty perceiving three-dimensional objects, or
• being irritable.

You May Like: Does Medicare Cover Respite Care For Alzheimer’s

Normal Aging Memory Loss Vs Dementia

Memory problems dont always indicate dementia. According to the National Institute on Aging, its perfectly natural to experience age-related memory loss.

Forgetfulness can be a normal part of aging. As people get older, changes occur in all parts of the body, including the brain, they advise. As a result, some people may notice that it takes longer to learn new things, they dont remember information as well as they did, or they lose things like their glasses. These usually are signs of mild forgetfulness, not serious memory problems

So how do you tell the difference between normal memory loss due to aging and dementia symptoms? Its not an exact science , but the chart below can help give you an idea of what youre up against.

___________________

Brain Fog Vs Dementia

We all forget things. Even in our twenties we might lose our keys or forget the name of someone we just met. And as we age, these moments of forgetfulness happen more often.

For women in their late forties and early fifties, the onset of menopause can bring even more brain fog and memory lapses for many women.

But the big question is: when should you worry that something is wrong? Is it just menopause, or might it be early warning signs of Alzheimers disease or dementia?

Its important to remember that there are lots of causes for brain fog, says Lynne Shinto, N.D., M.P.H., a naturopath with expertise in neurology and womens health at the OHSU Center for Womens Health.

Most of them are far less scary than Alzheimers disease. Here are a few of the most common causes:

• Hormone changes during the transition to menopause
• Other hormone changes
• Lack of sleep
• Vitamin and mineral deficiencies

Many of these causes come in pairs, or even trios. Stress can lead to lack of sleep or depression. The transition to menopause can lead to hot flashes that impact sleep, or to depression. Depression can lead to stress.

Poor thinking ability and memory problems are a very common symptom of depression.

For many people, treating their depression clears up symptoms of brain fog and cloudy thinking. For this reason, everyone with these symptoms, even people in their seventies and beyond, should be screened for depression.

Brain fog and dementia are different

Healthy brain aging

You May Like: Smelling Farts Can Prevent Cancer

Alzheimers Disease & Dementia

Alzheimers disease is both a type and cause of dementia. As a degenerative brain disease that is caused by complex changes to the brain following cell damage, Alzhemiers can lead to symptoms associated with a decline in memory and thinking skills . Since Alzheimers disease is the most common cause of dementiaaccounting for 60-80% of casesmany people often confuse the two or mistake them for the same thing.

Investigational Alzheimer’s Disease Therapy Lecanemab Granted Fda Fast Track Designationyour Browser Indicates If You’ve Visited This Link

FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy designation for lecanemab in June of 2021. Breakthrough Therapy designation and Fast Track designation are two FDA programs that are intended to facilitate and expedite development of new drugs to address unmet medical need in the treatment of a serious or life-threatening condition such as AD and provide opportunities for frequent interactions with the FDA.

Associated Press

You May Like: Sleeping Pills Cause Dementia

Where Mild Cognitive Impairment Fits In

Diagnosing and determining the type of dementia a person has can also get tricky because some people dont have full-blown dementiathey have what doctors refer to as mild cognitive impairment or MCI. With dementia, Dr. Scharre says, you often need other people to do activities for you that you used to be able to manage on your own , but with MCI, you can still do those things even if you need a bit of prompting. So youre forgetful, youre less efficient, and maybe you need verbal clues, but you can still do the function yourselfthats MCI, says Dr. Scharre.

Dementia And Alzheimers Disease: What Is The Difference

Dementia and Alzheimers

Dementia is not the same as Alzheimers disease. Dementia is a general term used to describe symptoms that affect memory, performance of daily activities, and communication skills. Alzheimers disease is the most common type of dementia. Alzheimers disease will worsen over time and affect memory, language, and thinking.

Although young people may develop dementia or Alzheimers disease, your risk increases with age. Nevertheless, both are considered normal parts of aging.

Although the symptoms of the two diseases may overlap, distinguishing between them is important for management and treatment.

Don’t Miss: Neurotransmitter Involved In Alzheimer’s

Ten Warning Signs Of Dementia

Consult a doctor if several of these symptoms are evident:

What Are The Symptoms Of Dementia

Everybody with dementia will experience symptoms differently. It also depends on what is causing the dementia. Most dementia symptoms fall into three categories.

• Difficulties with remembering, thinking and language. For example, being forgetful, disorientated and repeating questions. Or struggling to remember words and have conversations.
• Difficulties completing daily activities. For example, struggling to take care of yourself or your home, or getting lost in familiar places.
• Emotional problems and changes in behaviour. For example, becoming withdrawn, low or anxious, being restless and have trouble sleeping.

Sometimes people with Alzheimers struggle to communicate how theyre feeling because of the changes to their brain. This means they might get upset or act aggressively if theyre feel scared, upset or confused.

Also Check: Alzheimer’s Disease Ribbon Color

Difference Between Alzheimers And Dementia

Alzheimers vs Dementia

Alzheimers disease and dementia are both commonly seen in elderly individuals. Both diseases impair cognitive functions. Alzheimers disease is the commonest cause of dementia. Both diseases affect not only memory but also other cognitive functions. Here, we will discuss all those in detail, highlighting their types, clinical features, signs and symptoms, causes, investigation and diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and care, as well as the difference between Alzheimers and dementia.

Alzheimers

Alzheimers disease has no cure, and it worsens with time progressively impairing cognitive functions. The onset and progression of Alzheimers disease is unique to each patient. The actual reason for Alzheimers disease is not yet known. Some hypothesize that it is due to the formation of plaques in the brain and neuronal tangles. Early Alzheimers presents as loss of memory of recent events. With time, confusion, unstable mood, irritability, aggressive behavior, trouble with speech and understanding, and poor long term memory appear. Social interactions deteriorate with the progression of the disease. Slowly body functions deteriorate leading to death. It is very difficult to predict the life expectancy and disease progression because of the individual differences.

Figure 01: Alzheimers Brain

Dementia

What is the difference between Alzheimers and Dementia?

Curability of dementia depends on the cause while Alzheimers disease is incurable and progressive.

The Effects Of Alzheimers On The Brain

Damage to the brain begins years before symptoms appear. Abnormal protein deposits form plaques and tangles in the brain of someone with Alzheimers disease. Connections between cells are lost, and they begin to die. In advanced cases, the brain shows significant shrinkage.

Its impossible to diagnose Alzheimers with complete accuracy while a person is alive. The diagnosis can only be confirmed when the brain is examined under a microscope during an autopsy. However, specialists are able to make the correct diagnosis up to

• behavioral changes
• difficulty speaking, swallowing, or walking in advanced stages of the disease

Some types of dementia will share some of these symptoms, but they include or exclude other symptoms that can help make a differential diagnosis. Lewy body dementia , for example, has many of the same later symptoms as Alzheimers. However, people with LBD but are more likely to experience initial symptoms such as visual hallucinations, difficulties with balance, and sleep disturbances.

People with dementia due to Parkinsons or Huntingtons disease are more likely to experience involuntary movement in the early stages of the disease.

Treatment for dementia will depend on the exact cause and type of dementia, but many treatments for dementia and Alzheimers will overlap.

Don’t Miss: Does Ben Carson Have Dementia

What To Do If Youre Worried About Your Memory

If you suspect youre experiencing any warning signs of dementia , the first thing to do is see a physician. Dr. Scharre recommends asking for a cognitive assessment at your annual physical so your results can be compared year-over-year and declines can be identified and addressed right awayjust like a colonoscopy, blood pressure screening, or cholesterol testing.

As with any medical condition, typically the earlier you identify it, the more options you have for treatment and typically the better you do, he says. Some forms of dementia have treatable causes while others like Alzheimers are also treatable, just not reversible or curable. Thatnew medication the FDA approved for Alzheimers, for example, only works in the mild cognitive impairment stagethats where its sweet spot is and if you start getting even a little bit more than mild dementia its not useful.

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.

You May Like: Dementia Awareness Ribbon

The Difference Between Dementia And Senility

When an adult child begins to notice changes in a senior loved one, they might wonder if it is normal aging or something else. Its often hard for families to understand the differences when it comes to aging vs. dementia vs. senility. But there are distinct differences.The Differences Between Dementia and SenilityPeople often mistakenly think that dementia is just another name for Alzheimers disease, and that dementia and senility are one and the same.But dementia is actually a variety of medical conditions and illnesses that impair a persons cognitive health. Alzheimers disease is one type of dementia.Typical dementia symptoms can include memory loss, decline in abstract thought process, loss of verbal communication skills and a change in personality.

There are a number of different types of dementia. A few of the more common ones include:

• Alzheimers disease accounting for as much as 70 80% of all dementias
• Parkinsons dementia occurring in the later stages of Parkinsons disease
• Vascular dementia caused by a stroke or other interruption of blood flow to the brain

Senility, by contrast, is an older term used to describe a decline in an older adults physical and cognitive health. Like dementia, senility can cause changes in mental health, such as memory loss or a decline in judgment.But senility symptoms can also include physical changes such as:

• Stiff joints
• Loss of vision or hearing
• Brittle bones or bone loss