The Difference Between Alzheimer’s Disease And Dementia
Alzheimer’s disease is a very common condition that affects almost six million people in the United States. It is the sixth leading cause of death in America, and deaths from this severe neurological disease have increased by 145% in the past 20 years. Many people confuse Alzheimer’s disease with dementia, but dementia is not a specific disorder. It is a term that refers to a variety of symptoms of various neurological conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease. Understanding Alzheimer's and dementia more in-depth can help you recognize symptoms in yourself or a loved one.
What is Alzheimer's disease?
Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative condition that can affect a person’s thinking and cognition. Does Alzheimers kill? Alzheimer's can progress to a severe loss of brain function. The complications from the decline of brain function can eventually lead to death. One in three adults dies from Alzheimer’s disease, which is more than those who die from prostate cancer and breast cancer combined. In its most advanced stages, Alzheimer’s disease can significantly diminish a person’s ability to do any of the everyday activities that they would normally do, such as showering, dressing, walking, and using the bathroom.
Alzheimer’s disease can alter brain tissue by causing amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. These are abnormal clumps and tangles of fibers in the brain, respectively. Alzheimer’s can also cause a person to lose connections between the nerve cells in the brain.
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease
The problem with diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease is that many of the early symptoms can also be normal signs of aging, such as forgetfulness. If you feel like the symptoms you're experiencing point to Alzheimer's disease, get a proper diagnosis with a professional instead of doing an at home Alzheimers test.
Common symptoms of Alzheimer's disease-related brain changes
The following are some of the most typical symptoms of brain changes due to Alzheimer’s disease:
- Anger, depression, and anxiety
- Mood swings
- Chronic frustration
- Confusion or disorientation
- Changes in behavior and mood
- A tendency to get lost in familiar places
- A tendency to forget where things are
- Loss of coordination
- Trouble focusing
- Difficulty with completing normal tasks like getting dressed or cooking
- Inability to walk
- A tendency to confuse words for certain things
- A tendency to forget words when talking
- Repetition of the same questions over and over
The difference between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
Vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and other subtypes
There are also different types of dementia, such as:
- Vascular dementia
- Frontotemporal dementia
- Lewy body dementia
- Mixed dementia
In essence, dementia is an overarching term that could be a symptom of many different conditions and disorders. Alzheimer’s disease, however, is a specific brain disease— a type of dementia.
How was Alzheimer’s disease discovered?
Alzheimer's disease, the most common cause of dementia, is named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer, who discovered the disorder in 1906. After one of his patients had abnormal mental health problems like memory loss, strange behavior, and loss of speech, he examined her brain and found changes in the brain tissue. These changes occur in the hippocampus, which is the area of the brain that helps form memories. As the neurons die, other areas of the brain are affected as well, and the brain shrinks over time.
Amyloid plaques
The amyloid plaques are groups of beta-amyloids, which are protein fragments that disrupt and break down the connections between the brain’s nerve cells. These plaques bind themselves to your nerve cells and destroy the synapses you need for your neurons to communicate with each other. We need these synapses to think, plan, process emotions, and form and store memories. There are many types of beta-amyloids, such as beta-amyloid 42. This is the most toxic kind and has been found in high numbers in Alzheimer’s patients.
Neurofibrillary tangles
Similar to amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles are also clumps of protein. However, these are called tau proteins, and they gather in the nerve cells. The number of these tangles in the brain correlates with the degree of dementia one has with Alzheimer’s disease. In a healthy brain, the tau proteins bind and stabilize microtubules, which are what help feed the nerve cells. In a brain affected by Alzheimer’s disease, the tau proteins stick to each other and get tangled, which is why they are called tangles. This stops the communication between nerve cells.
The different stages of Alzheimer's disease and clinical trials
There are five stages of Alzheimer’s disease. These include preclinical Alzheimer’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease with mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease with mild dementia, Alzheimer’s disease with moderate dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease with severe dementia. Much of the time, the disease is not found until it has progressed to the second or third stage, but it is important to know the symptoms of each stage. Understanding these stages is also important for participating in clinical trials aimed at finding effective treatments.
Preclinical Alzheimer's disease
Preclinical Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by short-term memory problems. The patient is typically still functioning normally and scores higher on memory tests. Symptoms may include:
- Slight issues with complex daily tasks, such as work and grooming
- Trouble learning new things
- A tendency to occasionally forget things and misplace items
- Small changes in personality and mood
- Slight depression or anxiety
- Loss of abstract thinking
- Short attention span
- Lack of motivation
- Less interest in things going on around them
Alzheimer’s disease with mild cognitive impairment
In this second stage of Alzheimer’s disease, the symptoms may become more noticeable to the patient as well as others around them. The symptoms may include:
- Bouts of aggression, anxiety, and depression
- The patient not being aware of the changes
- Difficulty finding the right words when talking to someone
- Poor judgment or impulsive behavior
- A tendency to get lost when traveling
- Difficulty concentrating
- Forgetfulness
- Trouble remembering recent conversations and events
- Trouble remembering details of major events in their past
- Increase in apathy
Alzheimer’s disease with mild dementia
In the third stage of the disease, cognitive ability and memory tend to markedly decline, and it usually becomes more obvious that something is wrong with the individual. Symptoms tend to get worse. Here are some of the symptoms:
- A tendency to get lost more often
- Increased difficulty finding the right words
- Increased depression and anxiety
- Delusional behavior
- Inability to remember major world events
- Trouble managing medicines and finances
- Struggling with preparing and eating meals
- Forgetfulness and confusion
- Increase in apathy
Alzheimer’s disease with moderate dementia
This fourth stage may include worsening symptoms and challenges with hygiene and health. Also, daily activities can become almost impossible, and the individual may be at risk of injury as coordination starts to fail. Symptoms may include:
- Experiencing frequent delusions
- Forgetting what day and time it is
- Wandering off
- Getting lost
- Making up stories if facts elude them
- Repeating stories or memories
- Repeating behavior
- Experiencing insomnia or irregular sleep patterns
- Demonstrating restlessness, aggravation, and aggressive outbursts
- Forgetting friends and family
- Mistaking strangers for family
- Experiencing occasional urinary and bowel incontinence
- Having increased trouble with getting dressed
- Experiencing increased apathy
Alzheimer’s disease with severe dementia
The final stage of this disease tends to involve a more rapid and notable increase in all symptoms. The individual may need to remain in bed and have in-home health care. The symptoms are:
- Inability to swallow due to memory loss
- Muscle mass deterioration
- Weight loss
- Frequent incontinence
- Infantile reflexes, such as sucking
- Inability to hold their head up or smile
- Inability to do daily activities independently
- Severe difficulty with speech
- Chronic exhaustion
- Inability to sit up or walk
- Stiff muscles and decreased reflexes
- Constant pain in muscles
- Extreme apathy
Treatment for Alzheimer's disease and dementia
Although there are cures for some dementia cases, a possible cure depends on the cause. For example, if you have dementia from an infection, treating the infection might solve the problem. If you have a thyroid disorder or hypoglycemia, there are medications that may help with that.
Treatments and clinical trials for memory loss
While there is no current cure for dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease, there are treatments that can temporarily help with cognitive changes and memory loss. Furthermore, ongoing clinical trials are exploring new therapies aimed at improving these symptoms. For example:
- There are medications that target brain cells to improve the communication between neurons.
- Cholinesterase inhibitors may help improve communication in the nerve cells by increasing acetylcholine, which is a neurotransmitter. It is typically used in conjunction with other medications.
- Certain vitamins, such as alpha-tocopherol or selegiline, may help slow down the progress of the disease.
- Antidepressants may help with behavioral issues and depression.
- Sleeping aids are sometimes used to combat insomnia and sundowning.
- Anti-anxiety medications can be used to help with anxiety.
- Antipsychotics are sometimes used for aggression, agitation, hallucinations, and paranoia.
Participation in clinical trials can provide access to cutting-edge treatments and contribute to the advancement of medical knowledge in combating cognitive decline and memory loss.
Therapy as an alternative treatment
Because many of these drugs can produce serious side effects, some people opt to do without medication. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a popular option for those who wish to avoid taking medication for their dementia. Not only can CBT help with depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns in the individual with Alzheimer’s disease, but it can also help caregivers and loved ones. Those who care for their loved ones with this disease may be susceptible to depression and anxiety disorders, and they might need help, too.
Online therapy with BetterHelp
If you’re a caregiver of a loved one experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer’s or dementia symptoms, a therapist may be able to help. It can be overwhelming to care for a loved one with this diagnosis all alone. BetterHelp is an online counseling platform with a wide network of licensed mental health providers that can offer you professional guidance and insight into your situation.
Caregivers of those with dementia may have to stay most of the time, especially if their loved one’s condition has gone into the later, more severe stages. You can get connected from your phone, laptop, tablet, or computer and schedule sessions according to your availability.
The effectiveness of online therapy
Those caring for individuals with dementia may need regular mental health care. Often, it’s most convenient to get this care online. One study assessed the effectiveness of an internet intervention for family caregivers of people with dementia. Researchers found that participants experienced “significantly lower symptoms of depression” and fewer “symptoms of anxiety.” These results show the efficacy of online therapy in improving the lives of caregivers of those living with dementia.
Takeaway
Caring for a loved one with dementia, such as the most common type of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or even Parkinson's disease dementia, often takes patience and requires regular breaks for self-care. As the disease progresses, it can become increasingly difficult for individuals to perform everyday activities. The Alzheimer's Association acknowledges that caregivers may experience anxiety, depression, or other mental health concerns related to caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease or dementia. Know that you are not alone in facing these risk factors and challenges. A licensed online therapist can help you navigate the process of caring for a loved one experiencing symptoms of these specific disease conditions.
How can you tell the difference between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia?
Dementia is a non-specific term for cognitive decline and memory loss that is severe enough to interfere with daily functioning. Though dementia is common, it is not considered a normal part of aging.
Alzheimer’s disease is a common cause of dementia. Understanding Alzheimer’s disease and other kinds of dementia can promote early diagnosis and treatment.
Risk factors and early signs of Alzheimer’s disease
- Poor judgment and decision-making
- Losing track of time, location, names, or dates
- Increased time to complete daily tasks
- Repetitive questions or repeating statements
If you or someone you love is experiencing these symptoms, it’s important to seek help from a medical practitioner. They can diagnose Alzheimer’s disease and other disorders that can cause dementia. To make a diagnosis, a doctor will typically evaluate the patient's medical history, conduct a physical exam, order blood work, utilize neurological tests, and observe symptoms using cognitive tests. During these tests, practitioners assess things like memory, language, thinking skills, sensory responses, problem-solving, balance, and reflexes.
Are the symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer's the same?
Alzheimer’s is one type of disease that can cause dementia. Other diseases that cause dementia, such as vascular dementia or Huntington’s disease, can have different signs and symptoms that interfere with daily life. People affected by Huntington’s disease, for example, often experience:
- Stumbling, tripping, or other changes in gait and balance
- Becoming “stuck” on a thought
- Reduced impulse control
- Trouble learning new things
- Limited self-awareness
- Muscle contractions
- Involuntary movements
- Difficulty speaking or finding the right words
- Changes in eye movement
There are some things that most diseases that cause dementia have. For example, they typically affect older adults and worsen over time as nerve cells are damaged in the brain. Though dementia most commonly occurs in people over age 65, it can occur in younger people and it is not a normal part of aging.
Can you have Alzheimer's and dementia together?
Dementia is a general term, and Alzheimer’s is a specific disease that causes dementia. This means that a person with Alzheimer’s disease has dementia, but a person with dementia does not necessarily have Alzheimer’s.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are an estimated 55 million people with dementia worldwide, of which 60-70% are thought to have Alzheimer’s disease.
What are the four types of dementia?
Common types of dementia include:
Alzheimer’s disease
This is the most common type of dementia. Scientists are working towards understanding Alzheimer’s disease, but many causes of the disease are still unknown, and there is currently no treatment available that can cure it.
People with Alzheimer’s develop protein clumps called amyloid plaques, and tangles of proteins called tau tangles. Doctors can prescribe medications that reduce symptom severity and slow the growth of these proteins, which is often most effective when people receive an early diagnosis.
Vascular dementia
Vascular dementia is caused by blood vessel damage, which can lead to white matter damage and/or higher stroke risk. People with vascular dementia may exhibit signs such as reduced ability to focus on tasks, slower thinking, and difficulty solving problems.
Frontotemporal dementia
Frontotemporal dementia includes several diseases characterized by nerve cell breakdown and reduced connection between the temporal and frontal lobes. As these parts of the brain control personality and behavior, it’s common for those with frontotemporal dementia to exhibit personality changes, behavioral changes, and poor judgment.
Lewy body dementia
Lewy body dementia is named after a type of protein clump called a Lewy body, which is found in abundance in the brains of people with Lewy body dementia. People with this type of dementia may exhibit symptoms such as hallucinations, difficulty focusing, lack of coordination, and muscle stiffness or tremors.
Can dementia be cured?
Currently, there is no cure for any disease that causes dementia. However, as the scientific community works towards understanding Alzheimer's and dementia, there is hope that a cure will become available at some point in the future. In the meantime, there are many treatment options available that can help address the symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s, and some medications may be capable of slowing disease progression.
What is the main cause of dementia?
The main cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, which is estimated to account for around 60-70% of all cases of dementia. Vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia, with 5-10% of dementia cases attributed to it. Lewy body dementia, the third most common type of dementia, accounts for around 5% of dementia cases.
Does dementia have a hereditary risk factor?
In rare circumstances, dementia can be strongly hereditary, however, in the vast majority of cases, dementia is not inherited. In the case of Alzheimer’s disease, the strongest risk factor is age, not genetics. However, it’s more common for early-onset Alzheimer’s (Alzheimer’s that occurs before age 60) to be hereditary.
Can you prevent dementia?
There is no proven method to prevent dementia. However, the following can help address risk factors associated with dementia:
- Eat a nutritious diet
- Get routine exercise
- Get enough sleep
- Address environmental exposures, such as lead paint in your home
- Take care of your mental health
- Socialize regularly with friends and loved ones
- Avoid tobacco and alcohol
- Manage blood pressure, blood sugar, and other physical health conditions
When does dementia and memory loss start?
The age of dementia onset depends on the disease and other factors, though it typically develops in older adults. For example, most people experience symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease starting at age 65 or older, though some people can experience symptoms in their 30s. In the case of Lewy body dementia, most people begin experiencing symptoms between age 50 and 85.
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