These terms are often used interchangeably and create confusion among people. So, how do you know if you have Dementia or Alzheimer’s? We state the major differences between these two diseases to clear out all your confusion. After reading this post, you can state the difference between these two diseases.
What Is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Alzheimer’s disease is caused when there is a change in brain cells. The main reason behind this is the damaged cells. It directly affects memory and slowly causes complete impairment. People over 60 have a higher chance of getting affected by this disease.
During the early symptoms, the brain cells die, due to which the connection between nerves breaks down. The hippocampus part of the brain starts surrounded by insoluble proteins. However, there is no certain reason behind getting this problem.
What Is Dementia Disease?
Dementia is a type of syndrome that affects our mental health. It is a common type of problem seen by the majority of people. A group of symptoms affects the cognitive tasks responsible for reasoning and memory. Alzheimer’s is a subtype of this syndrome that affects the different brain activities in the body. When left untreated, it can become the leading cause of death.
Main Causes Of Dementia
There is no exact reason behind the cause of Dementia among humans. It is probably developed with age. Many conditions like degenerative disease also cause Dementia. According to the Research, there are a few causes behind this memory-affecting syndrome.
- Depression
- Sexual transmitted Infections like HIV
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Vascular problems
- Stroke
- Usage of chronic drug
Difference Between Alzheimer’s And Dementia Disease
There are different keywords between Dementia vs Alzheimer’s disease. The first difference is that Dementia is a syndrome while Alzheimer’s is a disease. However, a subtype of Dementia that affects a particular part of the body.
Difference Between Symptoms
One of the ways to differentiate both terms is based on their symptoms. Dementia and Alzheimer’s symptoms vary from each other. In the case of Alzheimer’s disease, you can notice the following causes:
- Problems in judgment
- Confusion
- Anxiety
- Apathy
- Unable to remember the events or face
- Depression
- Change in Behavior
- Problems in swallowing, speaking, and attention
- Disorientation
On the other hand, Dementia shows different symptoms, which are also based on its type. This syndrome is subdivided into various types that initially show mild or no signs. The early symptoms of Dementia are as follows:
- Occasional memory loss
- Having confusion in tracking time
- Can’t remember the faces of family members
The progressive symptoms of Dementia are as follows:
- Confusion in performing
- Frequent memory loss
- Difficulty in decision making
- Poor hygiene
- The habit of repetitive questioning
The advanced symptoms of Dementia are as follows:
- Change in behavior
- Memory loss
- Depression
- Trouble in telling the time
- Aggression
Difference Between Causes And Risk Factors
More than 70% of Alzheimer’s disease causes the risk of Dementia. Some of the common factors that cause the risk of Dementia are as follows:
- Side effects of some drugs
- Deficiency of vitamin B12 and Vitamin D
- Alcohol consumption
- Traumatic injury
- Problems in the kidney, liver, and thyroid
- Depression, stress, and anxiety
Dementia can affect people of any age, whereas Alzheimer’s is commonly seen in older people.
Key Difference Between Alzheimer’s And Dementia
| Comparison Of Parameters | Alzheimer’s Disease | Dementia Syndrome |
| Meaning | Alzheimer’s is mainly caused by the abnormality of protein deposits in the brain. | Dementia is a condition caused by impairment in memory. It causes the problems like memory loss, problem-solving, etc. |
| Type | It is a disease that affects memory. | It is a syndrome with various symptoms. |
| Common signs | Difficulty in memorizing, loss of concentration, visual perception, etc. | Behavioral changes, difficulty in swallowing, apathy, disorientation, etc. |
| Effects on brains hippocampus | No, it doesn’t affect the brain cells in the beginning. | Yes, it affects the hippocampus part of the brain. |
| Type of people affects | People of all ages and can develop Alzheimer’s disease. | Elder people of age above 60 are more prone to develop dementia syndrome. |
| Treatment | There is no cure for this disease. It can only be controlled by taking medications. | This condition is treated by giving drugs, therapies, and meditation. |
What Is The Possible Treatment For Alzheimer’s And Dementia?
There is no perfect cure for Dementia. However, it can be controlled by taking medications. Even after taking the treatment, the current problems cannot be reversed. However, some symptoms arise due to the deficiency of vitamins easily fulfilled by medications. The treatment for Alzheimer’s disease suggested by the doctors are as follows:
Medications
One of the simplest ways to treat Alzheimer’s is by taking medications. Different drugs are used for behavioral changes, memory loss, sleep changes, etc. Doctors prescribe the types of medication after analyzing your current condition.
Regular Exercise
Exercise is vital in controlling the symptoms of many diseases. Alzheimer’s is one of them and is widely treated with different exercises. A consultant can suggest the right exercise based on the current condition. Another way is to use sunlight to fulfill the deficiency of Vitamin D.
Take Cognitive Therapy
The effective means to control the side effects of this disease is taking cognitive therapy, as Alzheimer’s affects the brain cells, creating difficulty in making decisions. It mainly affects the cognitive power of humans. According to experts, cognitive training improves the working of brain cells. In this training, experts develop new habits to manage daily activities.
On the other hand, Dementia syndrome can only control being taken the right measures. It is not reversible, and some of its forms are treated by doctors.
Dementia caused by the following causes can control easily:
- Tumors
- Metabolic disorders
- Hypoglycemia
- Drugs
Various supportive devices and caregivers also help control this syndrome’s condition.
Difference Between The Risk Factors
The main cause of Dementia depends on its type. But there is no exact cause behind this syndrome. One of the risk factors behind getting Dementia is age. A recent study shows that more than 60% of people aged 85 suffer from this syndrome.
On the other hand, approx 12% of people in the United States currently have Alzheimer’s disease. The number of Alzheimer’s and Dementia impact factor increased to 34.6 in elder people of age 65-85 years. The possibility of risk is less in the younger age of people. Some rare cases also show the presence of this disease due to genes.
Can You Die From Dementia Or Alzheimer’s Disease?
People often ask: Can Dementia or Alzheimer’s cause death?
Over time, people who have Dementia lose their memory. However, this condition is not the main cause of death among people. When brain disorders increase, they block various activities and lead to death. Experts suggest that the death rate of people caused by Dementia has increased three times in the last few years.
Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death among older people. When this disease takes the form of Dementia, it creates a larger risk of death. The study shows over 90,000 people lose their lives yearly due to Alzheimer’s disease. People who have the assistance of caregivers have less probability of frequent death.
How Can Consultation On Alzheimer’s And Dementia Help You?
Few people know that consultation on Alzheimer’s and Dementia can help control the condition.
A consultant gets to know the causes and suggests the right care and medications.
We at Alnicor Consulting provide one-on-one sessions on Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
The main advantage of taking this session is flexibility. The expert provides complete information on symptoms, risk factors, and possible treatment during the consultation. You can take the session to control the syndrome in its early stage.
Conclusion
Loss of memory problems is common in older people. Despite that, many people don’t know whether they have Alzheimer’s or Dementia. Both medical terms look the same but have different symptoms; thus, one must know the difference between Alzheimer’s and Dementia. It is important to know that Dementia is a syndrome, whereas Alzheimer’s is a disease. People face symptoms like memory loss, change in behavior, and depression during Dementia.
Doctors suggest controlling both by taking medications, therapy, and consultation. Alnicor Consulting provides personalized sessions for Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Our consultant has years of experience and provides ways to cope with the issues. You can take advantage of our session via video calls, email, and phone. We also provide consultation services for the baby nurse, emotional support, and a nursing career. To book your session, contact us at 183-325-6267.
FAQs
Can A Person Recover From Dementia Easily?
There is no perfect cure for Dementia. It can be controlled by taking medications and therapy. Doctors suggest cognitive training to treat the condition.
What Are The Common Signs Of Dementia And Alzheimer’s Disease?
Some of the common signs of Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are as follows:
- Memory loss
- Change in behavior
- Impairment of judgment
- Difficulty in making decisions
- Disorientation
What Are The Stages Of Dementia Syndrome?
The different stages of Dementia are as follows:
- No memory deficit
- Slight cognitive decline
- Mild cognitive impairment
- Moderate cognitive impairment
- Moderate Dementia
- Severe cognitive decline
- Severe Dementia