Clementine Home Care offers a Dementia Care program of services with specially trained experts in caring for people with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases among other causes of dementia.
Here’s how dementia and Alzheimer’s disease differ:
1. Definition
- Dementia is an umbrella term for a range of symptoms affecting memory, thinking, and social abilities severely enough to interfere with daily life. It’s not a specific disease but a syndrome—a group of symptoms that may be caused by various underlying diseases.
- Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of dementia cases. It is a specific disease marked by the progressive degeneration of brain cells.
2. Cause
- Dementia can result from several conditions, including Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia (due to reduced blood flow to the brain), Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia, among others.
- Alzheimer’s disease is believed to be caused by a buildup of abnormal proteins in the brain, including amyloid plaques and tau tangles, which disrupt brain function and lead to cell death.
3. Symptoms
- Dementia symptoms vary depending on the type and cause. Common symptoms include memory loss, language problems, difficulties with problem-solving, and changes in mood or behavior.
- Alzheimer’s disease also involves memory loss and cognitive decline but often starts with mild memory problems that progress to severe disorientation, difficulty speaking, swallowing, and walking as the disease advances.
4. Progression
- Dementia can progress at different rates depending on the cause. Some forms of dementia, like those from certain illnesses or medications, may be reversible or manageable.
- Alzheimer’s disease is progressive and irreversible, typically worsening over 8–10 years from diagnosis, although this can vary.
5. Diagnosis
- Dementia diagnosis involves a broad assessment to determine its presence and possible causes. The focus is on symptom pattern and history.
- Alzheimer’s is specifically diagnosed through a combination of cognitive tests, brain imaging, and sometimes spinal fluid tests to identify amyloid and tau proteins.
In essence, dementia is a syndrome (a set of symptoms), while Alzheimer’s disease is a specific disease and the most common cause of dementia.