We recently talked about how to understand and care for someone with Alzheimer’s. Knowing the stages and the approach is one aspect, but also knowing the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia is another piece of the puzzle. First off, dementia and Alzheimer’s are not the same. This can shed some light on the confusion between the two terms and conditions as we dive in a bit more into each one.
Dementia or Alzheimer’s?
Dementia is a syndrome, not a disease, that impacts memory, daily activities, and communication abilities. Alzheimer’s disease will worsen over time and affect the person’s memory, language, and thought. Both can affect someone with age, but neither is an ordinary sign of aging. So, what’s the difference? They both seem to overlap each other but distinguishing them from one another is vital to managing and treating the patient.
Dementia – Symptoms & Causes
A syndrome is defined as a group of symptoms that do not have a definitive diagnosis. As a syndrome, dementia is a group of symptoms that have an effect on cognitive abilities such as memory and reasoning. It’s somewhat of an umbrella term that Alzheimer’s falls under. Someone can also have mixed dementia and have multiple conditions that will contribute to dementia.
Early signs of dementia can begin with episodes of forgetfulness, trouble keeping track of time, and a tendency to get lost even in familiar surroundings. These symptoms will grow, and it can be difficult to recall names and faces. This can lead them to lose track of basic personal care. When this occurs, some more obvious signs can be repetition in questioning, poor hygiene, and poor decision making.
Dementia will occur when certain brain cells become damaged. This can be due to other degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s. They each do different damage to different brain cells, and Alzheimer’s is responsible for 50-70% of all dementia cases.
Some of the other causes of dementia could be caused from:
- Infections, such as HIV
- Vascular diseases
- Stroke
- Depression
- Drug Use
Santa Teresa Providers Can Help Care
It can be difficult for even a doctor to diagnose dementia types properly, so understanding what signs to look out for is vital. Our staff at Santa Teresa Providers can help you care for your loved one who has been diagnosed with a type of dementia. Give us a call today to see how any of our services can help make your loved one feel more comfortable.
