Treatment Of Alzheimers Vs Dementia
There is no cure for Alzheimers or Dementia. The focus is put on treatment to help manage symptoms. Treatments for Dementia depend on what type of Dementia is present, but the treatment for Alzheimers and Dementia will have some overlap.
Treatments for both Alzheimers and Dementia:
- Cholinesterase inhibitors- help with memory loss
- Glutamate inhibitors help aid with learning and memory
- Sleep Medication help manage trouble with sleeping
- Antidepressants Help fight depression from Alzheimers or Dementia
- Antipsychotic Medications help with behavioral changes
- Good Support system
The Effects Of Alzheimers On The Brain
In people with Alzheimers disease, brain cells die and connections between brain cells may break down. One of the hallmark symptoms is abnormal protein deposits in the brain called plaques and tangles.
Plaques are dense clusters of protein that can block communication between neurons. Tangles are proteins that twist together that lead to the death of healthy brain cells.
In advanced Alzheimers, the brain shows significant shrinkage. Changes in the brain may occur a or more before symptoms start.
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 can make the correct diagnosis up to 90 percent of the time.
The symptoms of Alzheimers and dementia can overlap, but there can be some differences.
Both conditions can cause:
- 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.
What Are The Most Common Types Of Dementia
- Alzheimers disease. This is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60 to 80 percent of cases. It is caused by specific changes in the brain. The trademark symptom is trouble remembering recent events, such as a conversation that occurred minutes or hours ago, while difficulty remembering more distant memories occurs later in the disease. Other concerns like difficulty with walking or talking or personality changes also come later. Family history is the most important risk factor. Having a first-degree relative with Alzheimers disease increases the risk of developing it by 10 to 30 percent.
- Vascular dementia. About 10 percent of dementia cases are linked to strokes or other issues with blood flow to the brain. Diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are also risk factors. Symptoms vary depending on the area and size of the brain impacted. The disease progresses in a step-wise fashion, meaning symptoms will suddenly get worse as the individual gets more strokes or mini-strokes.
- Lewy body dementia. In addition to more typical symptoms like memory loss, people with this form of dementia may have movement or balance problems like stiffness or trembling. Many people also experience changes in alertness including daytime sleepiness, confusion or staring spells. They may also have trouble sleeping at night or may experience visual hallucinations .
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The Difference Between Alzheimers And Dementia
Although you may hear the terms dementia and Alzheimers disease used interchangeably, it’s important to know they are distinct concepts. Alzheimer’s is a specific health condition, although it is the most common cause of dementia.
Other causes of dementia include:
How Are They Different
When a person is diagnosed with dementia, they are being diagnosed with a set of symptoms. This is similar to someone who has a sore throat. Their throat is sore but it is not known what is causing that particular symptom. It could be allergies, a common cold or strep throat. Similarly, when someone has dementia they are experiencing symptoms without being told what is causing those symptoms.
Another major difference between the two is that Alzheimers is not a reversible disease. It is degenerative and incurable at this time. Some forms of dementia, such as a drug interaction or a vitamin deficiency, are actually reversible or temporary.
Once a cause of dementia is found, appropriate treatment and counseling can begin. Until a proper diagnosis is made, the best approach to any dementia is communication, engagement and loving care.
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Alzheimers Vs Dementia Symptoms
While many symptoms of Alzheimers and Dementia are similar, there are some differences that are worth pointing out.
Both Alzheimers and Dementia symptoms include:
- Struggles with the ability to think
- Memory Impairment
Alzheimers Symptoms only include:
- Struggles remembering events and conversations that recently happened
- Changes in behavior
- Difficulty speaking
Many of these Alzheimers symptoms are shared by other types of Dementia. So how can you tell which are symptoms of Dementia vs. Alzheimers? Usually, it is because they include or exclude other initial symptoms that help doctors confirm which type of Dementia individuals have.
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.
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What Is Dementia Exactly
While its current diagnostic name is major neurocognitivedisorder, the umbrella term dementia is still universally usedmostly in the lay languageto describe a wide array of symptoms resulting from a variety of brain pathologies and injuries. Loss of memory together with impairment in thinking, reasoning, learning, and language skills intense mood swings behavioral and emotional issues and difficulties carrying out simple daily tasks all fall under its rubric.
If you are wondering what the symptoms look like in action, Shakespeares King Lear , one of the greatest tragedies in English literature, can give you quite an in-depth and faithful portrait. The 80-year-old King of Britain could have suffered from Lewy Body dementia, experts suggest. The signs are woven throughout the play: from irrational thinking, paranoia, and hallucinations, to sudden mood changes, and eventually, the inability to recognize people he knows.
King Lears madness, dementia, gets its name from two Latin words joined together: de, meaning away from, and mens, mentis, meaning mind, reason, intellect. Its usually translated as being out of ones mind.
First recorded in The Etymologies, an encyclopedia compiled around ad 600 by the archbishop of Seville, Saint Isidore , the term dementia referred to all kinds of mental and neurological diseases.
Proteins Associated With Alzheimers Disease
While the exact cause of Alzheimers is unknown, there are two proteins that create plaques and tangles in the brain that are the leading suspects in cell death and tissue loss in Alzheimers. Beta-amyloid is a protein that clusters and creates plaques in the brain. These plaques build up between nerve cells and it is thought they block cell-to-cell signaling. Studies have also suggested that they can trigger inflammation and destroy disabled cells.
Within dying cells, researchers have found tangles of another protein called tau. Normally, tau is responsible for regulating the transportation system in the brain. But, when tau becomes tangled, it essentially disintegrates this transport system and keeps nutrients from moving to cells, eventually killing those cells.
Most people develop these plaques and tangles at some point but people with Alzheimers develop much more than the average person. In the progression of Alzheimers, the plaques and tangles follow a pattern, affecting the learning and memory areas of the brain first and then spreading.
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Isnt Dementia Part Of Normal Aging
No, many older adults live their entire lives without developing dementia. Normal aging may include weakening muscles and bones, stiffening of arteries and vessels, and some age-related memory changes that may show as:
- Occasionally misplacing car keys
- Struggling to find a word but remembering it later
- Forgetting the name of an acquaintance
- Forgetting the most recent events
Normally, knowledge and experiences built over years, old memories, and language would stay intact.
What Are The Causes Of Dementia
Dementia is caused by damage to your brain. Dementia affects your brains nerve cells, which destroys your brains ability to communicate with its various areas. Dementia can also result from blocked blood flow to your brain, depriving it of needed oxygen and nutrients. Without oxygen and nutrients, brain tissue dies.
Damage to your brain results in different symptoms, depending on the area of your brain affected. Some dementias arent reversible and will worsen over time. Other dementias are due to other medical conditions that also affect your brain. Another group of health issues can result in dementia-like symptoms. Many of these conditions are treatable, and the dementia symptoms are reversible.
All of the possible causes of dementia are discussed in the question, Are there different types of dementia?
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Does Memory Loss Mean Dementia Is Starting
One common misbelief about memory loss is that it always means you or a loved one has dementia. There are many causes of memory loss. Memory loss alone doesnt necessarily confirm a diagnosis of dementia.
Its also true that some memory changes are normal as a person ages . However, this type of memory loss isnt functionally disabling meaning, it doesnt interfere with daily life.
Dementia interferes with your ability to function. Dementia isnt forgetting where you left your keys. A person with dementia can have situations like forgetting what keys are used for. Dementia isnt a normal part of aging.
Symptoms Of Alzheimers Disease
Although some of the symptoms of Alzheimers and other forms of dementia can overlap, Alzheimers tends to progress in stages.
The changes associated with Alzheimers typically begin in the part of the brain that impacts learning. Its why the most common early symptom of Alzheimers is difficulty remembering newly learned information.
As Alzheimers progresses, a persons symptoms will gradually worsen.
They may start to have mood and behavior changes and experience confusion about time and place. They may become suspicious of family, friends, and caregivers or make rash or impulsive decisions due to impaired judgment.
In late-stage Alzheimers, the person may be unable to carry on a conversation. They may have severe memory loss and difficulty walking, talking, and even swallowing. A person at this stage typically requires full-time, round-the-clock care.
To diagnose Alzheimers, physicians will look at medical history and may conduct several tests, including brain imaging and blood tests. Physicians will typically also perform a neurological exam, and they may use mental status tests to evaluate the persons memory, thinking and simple problem-solving abilities.
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How Is Dementia Treated
Treatment of dementia depends on the underlying cause. Neurodegenerative dementias, like Alzheimers disease, have no cure, though there are medications that can help protect the brain or manage symptoms such as anxiety or behavior changes. Research to develop more treatment options is ongoing.
Leading a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise, healthy eating, and maintaining social contacts, decreases chances of developing chronic diseases and may reduce number of people with 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
- 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
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What Is The Difference Between Dementia And Alzheimers Disease
Theres a lot of confusion around dementia and Alzheimers. Many people who are caring for an aging relative struggle to understand the key signs and differences, which can prevent them from getting proper treatment. Manisha Parulekar, M.D., FACP, AGSF, CMD, chief of the Division of Geriatrics at Hackensack University Medical Center helps break it down.
Dementia is an umbrella term for several conditions that affect memory, and Alzheimers falls within that group. Alzheimers is one specific type of dementia. There are multiple types of dementia.
Simply put: If you have Alzheimers disease, you also have dementia, explains Dr. Parulekar. Alzheimers disease is the most common type of dementia.
The main difference between dementia and Alzheimers is that dementia is a group of symptoms, not a disease, whereas Alzheimers is a disease. Similar to when you experience a sore throat a sore throat is the symptom youre experiencing, but strep throat is the infection thats making your sore throat occur. Alzheimers is a disease that is causing dementia to occur.
Also, some causes of dementia are reversible or temporary, such as a vitamin deficiency or drug interaction but Alzheimers disease is not reversible at all.
Forgetting To Perform Daily Tasks Like Brushing Teeth Or Eating
In the early stages of dementia, you may notice your loved one is having trouble with things like hygiene or cooking. They may forget to brush their teeth or take a shower.
You might also notice theyre not eating as much as they used to or that theyre losing weight. This is because dementia can make it hard to remember how to maintain their habits.
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Can You Have Alzheimer’s And Other Types Of Dementia At The Same Time
Yes, it is possible to have Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia at the same time. This is known as ‘mixed dementia’. Read more about mixed dementia in our guide to types of dementia.
Live-in care provides round-the-clock support for people who need help to live independently. There is specialist live-in care available for people with dementia. Read our guide to 10 of the best live-in care providers to find out more.
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Agitation And Anger Outbursts
People with dementia may also become easily agitated and have angry outbursts. This could be in response to something thats not there or because theyre feeling frustrated.
No matter how many, or how few of these symptoms someone is showcasing, its vital to get their diagnosis early and start treatment so they can live a happy life free of stress and anxiety. It can also help the caregivers and family members ensure their safety if they can get into a facility that focuses on treating dementia, Alzheimers disease, and other memory care.
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Warning Signs Of Dementia Or Alzheimers Disease
Depending on the area of the brain thats affected, dementia can affect people differently and cause different signs and symptoms. Here are 10 general warning signs of dementia or Alzheimers disease:
Getting Lost In Familiar Places
As dementia progresses, its not uncommon for those affected to get lost in familiar places. This is because dementia can make it hard to remember how to get from point A to point B.
If you notice a loved one starting to have trouble getting around or if theyre constantly getting lost, it may be time to have a conversation about getting checked out.
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Issues Speaking Or Understanding Speech
Another common symptom of dementia is language problems. This can manifest in a few different ways, but the most common is trouble finding the right word or saying the wrong word altogether.
You may also notice someone with dementia has issues understanding what others are saying to them. This can be frustrating for both parties and often leads to misunderstandings.
Is This Just A Senior Moment Or Something Else
Have you ever spent the whole morning looking for your keys? Or forgotten the reason for walking to another room? Rest assured, you are not alone. It happens to everyone and at any age. Countless factors could be to blame, including stress, poor sleep patterns, and even some medications.
Nevertheless, it tends to happen more often as you age. Why? Your brain grows older as you do. Its called cognitive aging. Some areas of the brain shrink and its processing speed slows down, so memory lapses become more frequent and problem-solving and multitasking take more effort.
These kinds of age-related difficulties are far less intrusive than that associated with Alzheimers or other neurological pathologies.
Also, it doesnt come together with other warning signs, like repeating questions or getting lost in familiar places, trouble handling money, paying bills, and completing habitual tasks, or sudden changes in mood and personality. These, instead, should all raise a red flag.
The good news is, your genetics, diet, and overall lifestyle all seem to play an important role not only in the age of your brainwhich doesnt depend much on the number of years you have livedbut also in the risk of developing diseases and disorders.
So, lets live well, address any concerns, and keep our health in check. While research makes progress and changes the games.
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