Dementia and
Alzheimer’s disease are often thought of as the same thing. Although the
symptoms of both conditions can appear similar, their underlying causes and
treatment methods can be quite different. Alzheimer’s patients often exhibit
dementia, but not all people who deal with dementia have Alzheimer’s disease.
The main difference
between these two common conditions is that dementia is a group of symptoms,
whereas Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease with a formal diagnosis. By
contrast, dementia is a syndrome, meaning it is not a formal disease, but
rather a set of symptoms that point to an underlying, separate cause.
Some of the symptoms
of dementia include:
- Impaired
language and communication
- Memory
loss
- Foggy
thinking
Symptoms of
Alzheimer’s can include the symptoms of dementia listed above, as well as:
- Behavioral
changes
- Short-term
memory loss (inability to recall what was just said)
- Disorientation
- Depression
and apathy
- Progressive
decline in ability to walk, speak, or care for oneself
Alzheimer’s is one of
the biggest causes of dementia, but people affected by Parkinson’s disease,
Huntington’s disease, stroke and vascular diseases, nutritional and metabolic
disorders, or drug interactions may also exhibit dementia without having
Alzheimer’s. Whereas Alzheimer’s causes a specific form of dementia, there are
many types of dementia, caused by other forms of damage to different areas of
the brain.
It is important to
understand the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s because treatment
methods and the prognoses for the two conditions can vary. For cases of
dementia, identifying the root cause determines the plan of treatment. Some
forms of dementia can be alleviated by treating the root cause of the problem,
especially in cases of metabolic disorders and drug effects. In cases of
vascular disorders, prevention of further damage, such as future strokes, may
prevent an escalation of dementia symptoms.
If the underlying
cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, the focus becomes management of
symptoms. Some treatment strategies include boosting brain function, using
sleep and depression medications, and treating memory loss with
pharmaceuticals. Those dealing with dementia and/or Alzheimer’s disease can
benefit from supportive services and memory care.
Located in North
Riverside, Illinois, we at The Scottish Home understand the
challenges and difficulties of memory loss, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.
For over 100 years, we have been providing personalized care to seniors. Our services include residential
and respite care, as well as “Best in Class” memory support care at our
brand-new Caledonia House. The Scottish Home is where friends become family. Contact us or visit our website to learn more about
what makes our family of staff, residents, relatives, and community members so
special.
