When it comes to differentiating Alzheimer's and dementia, a lot of confusion is experienced and especially because most people use the two words interchangeably. Although slightly related, the two words are very different. In simple explanation, Alzheimer's is one cause of the symptoms of dementia while dementia is a symptom that can be caused by different factors; Alzheimer's being one of the causes.
On the other hand, Alzheimer's disease is a common cause of dementia. This kind of disease is usually suffered by older age group. Since it is considered as the most common cause of dementia, this disease is equated with its general term. But you should always remember that dementia has a lot of other causes, not only the Alzheimer's disease.
According to the World Health Organization, there are 35.6 million people around the world who are suffering from dementia. Though, it is not a disease, dementia is actually a collection of symptoms that can affect a person's mental activity including reasoning as well as memory. It can be caused by a variety of conditions and it is most common among patients with Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's progresses slowly and can start by the patient having a short memory and later developing other problems such as poor judgment and decision making. In order to distinguish Alzheimer's from other causes of dementia, the doctor will first examine these first symptoms in order to establish the real cause of dementia. A CT scan can follow in order to be sure that Alzheimer's is the real cause of condition dementia.
To identify causes of dementia, body screening, neuropsychological and blood testing, evaluation of mental status of the patient and even brain scans are done. Dementia can be caused by many symptoms and therefore necessary that several tests be taken to identify the real cause.
Although Alzheimer's is just one symptom of dementia, it is hard to identify and might even be identified after death by carrying out a microscopic test of the patient's brains. However, the worst thing is that even after being the most difficult symptom of dementia to identify, of all people suffering from dementia 60-70 percent has Alzheimer's.
Alzheimer's affects the patient's memory which starts to show after the patient reaches sixty years. In older people; over 60 years; the disease can take up to 3 years before the person passes on. However, this is different from younger people; it can take longer before they pass away. On the other hand, on much elderly people who are over 80 years can take less than 3 years after Alzheimer's symptoms show.
If a person has Alzheimer's disease, the damage to the brain can begin even before the symptoms show. There are abnormal protein deposits that form plaques and tangles in the brain of a patient with Alzheimer's. The connections between the cells are lost, thus they begin to die.
It is important that doctors explain the difference between Alzheimers and dementia to their patients in order to avoid confusion. This way, the patient will be well-informed about the condition that he or she is suffering from. It would also give the doctors with the possible cure or prevention for the condition.
On the other hand, Alzheimer's disease is a common cause of dementia. This kind of disease is usually suffered by older age group. Since it is considered as the most common cause of dementia, this disease is equated with its general term. But you should always remember that dementia has a lot of other causes, not only the Alzheimer's disease.
According to the World Health Organization, there are 35.6 million people around the world who are suffering from dementia. Though, it is not a disease, dementia is actually a collection of symptoms that can affect a person's mental activity including reasoning as well as memory. It can be caused by a variety of conditions and it is most common among patients with Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's progresses slowly and can start by the patient having a short memory and later developing other problems such as poor judgment and decision making. In order to distinguish Alzheimer's from other causes of dementia, the doctor will first examine these first symptoms in order to establish the real cause of dementia. A CT scan can follow in order to be sure that Alzheimer's is the real cause of condition dementia.
To identify causes of dementia, body screening, neuropsychological and blood testing, evaluation of mental status of the patient and even brain scans are done. Dementia can be caused by many symptoms and therefore necessary that several tests be taken to identify the real cause.
Although Alzheimer's is just one symptom of dementia, it is hard to identify and might even be identified after death by carrying out a microscopic test of the patient's brains. However, the worst thing is that even after being the most difficult symptom of dementia to identify, of all people suffering from dementia 60-70 percent has Alzheimer's.
Alzheimer's affects the patient's memory which starts to show after the patient reaches sixty years. In older people; over 60 years; the disease can take up to 3 years before the person passes on. However, this is different from younger people; it can take longer before they pass away. On the other hand, on much elderly people who are over 80 years can take less than 3 years after Alzheimer's symptoms show.
If a person has Alzheimer's disease, the damage to the brain can begin even before the symptoms show. There are abnormal protein deposits that form plaques and tangles in the brain of a patient with Alzheimer's. The connections between the cells are lost, thus they begin to die.
It is important that doctors explain the difference between Alzheimers and dementia to their patients in order to avoid confusion. This way, the patient will be well-informed about the condition that he or she is suffering from. It would also give the doctors with the possible cure or prevention for the condition.
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Learn more about the stages of dementia. Stop by the dementia stages website where you can find out all about the differences in terminology between Dementia and Alzheimer's? and the different available treatments.
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