Dementia is the result of different illnesses that influence the brain. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common disease that leads to dementia. Some common types of dementia incorporate dementia with Lewy bodies and vascular dementia. Alzheimer’s vs. dementia is related but is two different diseases, which we will discuss in this blog. It means that dementia is not an illness in its own right. Dementia is a group of symptoms that generally incorporate problems with problem-solving, perception, memory, language, and thinking.
Even though there are similarities and a relationship between Alzheimer’s and Dementia, there are some major differences. In this blog, we are describing the major differences between Alzheimer’s Vs. dementia. Moreover, if you are looking for the best treatment, go through the blog to find out more.
What Is Dementia?
When an individual gets a diagnosis of dementia, they should learn about the type of dementia they are suffering from. Because that is not always the case, and sometimes the word dementia is employed to describe the symptoms that the person may be experiencing. The symptoms may also include problems with concentration or language or memory loss. Alzheimer’s & Dementia have a lot of differences.
Dementia results from diseases that damage the brain by leading to a loss of nerve cells. It is also one common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover, some of the other causes of dementia include:
- Frontotemporal dementia is where an abnormal clump of protein forms in the side part and front of the brain and leads to the death of nerve cells.
- Vascular dementia, where the lack of oxygen supply to the brain damages the nerve cells. It can be also caused by a series of mini-strokes, disease of the small blood vessel in the brain, or just a single stroke.
- Mixed dementia is where the individual has more than one type of dementia and mixed symptoms.
- Dementia with Lewy Bodies, abnormal structures also known as Lewy bodies, form in the brain and lead to the death of nerve cells.
The symptoms an individual with dementia goes through depending on the diseases causing dementia and the damaged section of the brain. Dementia is also a progressive disease that will get worse as time passes. Moreover, go through the next section to learn more about Alzheimer’s disease. After that, we have mentioned the basic difference between Alzheimer’s vs. Dementia.
What Is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Alzheimer’s disease is a physical disease that attacks the brain. Anormal formations known as tangles and plaques form inside the brain. These abnormal structures upset the functioning of nerve cells and how they communicate and work with each other, eventually leading them to die.
There is also a scarcity of essential chemicals in the brain of an individual suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. The low levels of these chemicals in the brain mean the messages don’t travel as properly as they should.
Alzheimer’s disease generally begins slowly with a little memory loss. The individual may face problems in learning new information and recalling recent events. Other indicators may include problems in finding the correct words, making decisions, grasping things in three dimensions, and solving problems.
As Alzheimer’s disease advances, difficulty with communication, orientation, memory loss, and reasoning become more acute. The ill patient may need more support daily from the people caring for them.
At this point, there is no cure for individuals who have Alzheimer’s disease. Nevertheless, several treatments can help ease the symptoms or slow the disease’s progression in some individuals.
Alzheimer’s vs. Dementia: What’s The Difference Between them?
Alzheimer’s vs. dementia are the terms that are often interchangeably used, but these two have different meanings. Dementia is not a specific kind of disease; it is a broad term representing a wide range of symptoms. The symptoms of this disease can affect an individual’s ability to execute everyday activities independently. General symptoms of dementia include:
- First of all, changes in behavior
- A decline in the memory
- Decreased attention and focus
- Moreover, changes in language
- Poor reasoning skills and judgment
- Changes in thinking skills.
The most common kind of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, but it is not the only disease that leads to dementia. There are several different causes and types of dementia, such as:
- Huntington’s disease
- Vascular dementia
- Mixed dementia
- Chronic traumatic encephalopathy
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
- Lewy body dementia
- Parkinson’s disease dementia
- Frontotemporal dementia
- Limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy.
While dementia is a general term that can describe symptoms such as forgetfulness and difficulty functioning properly, Alzheimer’s is a specific type of brain disease. It is marked by symptoms of dementia that slowly get worse as time passes. Alzheimer’s disease first and foremost affects the section of the brain responsible for learning, so the initial symptoms include alteration in thinking, reasoning skills, and memory. As the disease gets worse, the symptoms also start to get worse, including changes in behavior, confusion, and other such challenges.
Alzheimer’s vs. Dementia- Treatment For Dementia
First, learning about the terms curable, treatable, and reversible is essential. All or nearly all types of dementia are treatable; to do that, doctors can use medications and other measures that can assist in controlling your symptoms. However, most forms of dementia cannot be reversed or cured, and the treatment only provides modest benefits.
The dementia-like symptoms are the result of:
- Side effects of alcohol, medications, or illicit drugs.
- Depression.
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
- Subdural hematoma (a buildup of blood under your brain’s outer covering caused by a head injury).
- Hypothyroidism is a problem that results from low levels of thyroid hormones.
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
- Metabolic disorders, like vitamin B12 deficiency.
- Tumors that can be removed.
- Normal-pressure hydrocephalus (a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid inside your brain).
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Some dementias are not reversible and may still respond to medications that treat behavior problems or memory loss. These dementias include:
- AIDS dementia complex.
- Alzheimer’s disease.
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
- Dementias are associated with Parkinson’s disease and similar disorders.
- Multi-infarct (vascular) dementia.
Alzheimer’s vs. Dementia- Treatment For Alzheimer’s
There is no cure for treating Alzheimer’s disease. Still, certain medications are available that can briefly slow the worsening of symptoms of dementia and help with behavioral issues that may appear during the disease.
Moreover, four medications are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat people who have symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. These drugs are known as NMDA antagonists and cholinesterase inhibitors.
The cholinesterase inhibitors are authorized to treat individuals who have mild to moderate levels of Alzheimer’s symptoms. Cholinesterase inhibitors include rivastigmine, Donepezil, and galantamine.
Additionally, individuals can get treatments from The NDMA if they are feeling moderate to severe symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
In A Nutshell
If you have or are feeling any symptoms that point toward Alzheimer’s or dementia, read the blog to know the differences between Alzheimer’s vs. Dementia. You also need proper guidance to help deal with all the issues. To keep all the symptoms in check and keep you in the right direction, Alnicor Consulting is here to guide you through the whole process of medication, exercise, and diet charts to help you live a stress-free life and keep your mental state balanced.