Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia: What’s the Difference?

In recent years, several close members of my family have developed dementia, and witnessing this primary hand is a really difficult and painful experience. Some have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and others haven’t, so I used to be wondering what the difference was between the 2. Many people think that dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are one and the identical. I discovered that these disorders differ in that dementia just isn’t a separate disease but a general term describing cognitive decline, whereas Alzheimer’s disease is a selected brain disease that causes dementia. We dig deeper…

Dementia

Dementia is a general term used to explain a gaggle of symptoms that affect a person’s ability to independently perform every day activities (Graff-Radford, n.d.). Dementia just isn’t a standard a part of aging, but advanced age is the strongest known risk factor. Other risk aspects include family history, race/ethnicity (higher risk for African Americans and Latinos), hypertension, high cholesterol, smoking, and severe traumatic brain injury.
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 Symptoms of dementia include:

• Memory deterioration
• Changes in pondering/reasoning skills and judgment
• Decreased focus and a focus
• Changes in speech and behavior

Certain causes or forms of dementia cause progressive physiological changes in neurological functioning. These include (Alzheimer’s Association, n.d.; Graff-Radford, n.d.):

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Dementia with Lewy bodies
• Frontotemporal dementia
• Vascular dementia
• Chronic traumatic encephalopathy
• Dementia attributable to Parkinson’s disease
• Hippocampal sclerosis (HS)
• Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
• Huntington’s disease
• Mixed dementia (brain changes are linked to a couple of cause)

Some people develop dementia-like symptoms and progressive brain changes. Causes of dementia-like symptoms include depression, untreated sleep apnea, delirium, drug unwanted effects, Lyme disease, thyroid problems, vitamin deficiencies, and excessive alcohol consumption (Alzheimer’s Association, n.d.). These conditions may be reversed with treatment.

Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and probably the most common type of dementia (Wolk and Dickerson, 2021). According to the Alzheimer’s Association (n.d.), in 2022, roughly 6.5 million people aged 65 and older within the United States had Alzheimer’s dementia. Symptoms may first appear after age 60, and the danger increases with age ( Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). Younger people can develop Alzheimer’s disease, but it surely is way less common.
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Scientists proceed to find the assorted brain changes that develop with Alzheimer’s disease. Two of those changes are the buildup of beta-amyloid protein in clumps (plaques) outside neurons and the buildup of an abnormal type of tau protein (tau tangles) inside neurons. This accumulation of proteins causes damage and destruction of neurons (Alzheimer’s Association, n.d.). The proteins may also cause additional abnormalities within the brain, reminiscent of inflammation and atrophy or lack of brain cells. Additionally, a rare genetic mutation called dominantly inherited Alzheimer’s disease (DIAD) has been identified in some people.

Management of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia

The Alzheimer’s Association offers several recommendations for proactively treating Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias to enhance the standard of life for patients and their caregivers.

• Research available treatment options (i.e. recent medications, physical activity, weight loss plan, and cognitive training).
• Manage co-morbid conditions (i.e. heart disease, stroke, other forms of dementia)
• Deal with common behavioral symptoms (i.e. insomnia, agitation, anxiety and aggression).
• Provide family caregivers with training in the right way to manage the patient’s every day life.
• Coordination of care amongst health care staff and specialists.
• Encourage activities which might be meaningful to the person with dementia.
• Help the person maintain a way of self-identity and relationships with others.
• Connect the person and family with others through support groups and services.
• Educate caregivers concerning the disease.
• Help the patient and caregivers plan for the longer term.

Alzheimer’s Association. (n.d.) Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures. Retrieved March 14, 2023 from
https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/facts-figures

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2020, October 26). Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. https://www.cdc.gov/aging/aginginfo/alzheimers.htm

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Graff-Radford, J. (2022, April 14). Alzheimer’s disease and dementia: what is the difference? Mayonnaise clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/expert-answers/alzheimers-and-dementia-whats-the-difference/faq-20396861

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Wolk, D. A., & Dickerson, B. C. (2021, October 8). Clinical features and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. . https://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-features-and-diagnosis-of-alzheimer-disease

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