What’s the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s?
There are currently almost a million people living with dementia in the UK – a figure that’s expected to rise to 1.6 million by 2040 (source: Alzheimers.org.uk).
Although the condition affects so many thousands of people, it is still widely misunderstood.
One of the most common misconceptions is that dementia and Alzheimer’s are terms that can be used interchangeably to describe the same set of symptoms – but they are in fact different and it’s important to know the distinction between the two.
What is dementia?
Dementia is not a disease or condition in itself – instead it is the term used to describe a set of symptoms, including:
- Memory loss and forgetfulness
- Personality and mood changes
- Cognitive difficulties such as struggles with thinking, speaking and problem solving
What is Alzheimer’s?
Alzheimer’s is a disease and is the most common cause of dementia – which is why the two are commonly confused.
Alzheimer’s disease causes abnormalities to develop in the brain known as ‘knots’, ‘plaque’ or ‘tangles’ which build up, eventually causing damage to the communication network between nerve cells.
Symptoms specific to Alzheimer’s include:
- Memory issues
- Getting lost or not recognising your surroundings
- Forgetting how to carry out simple tasks
- Forgetting names (even the names of loved ones and people you know well)
- Impaired judgement
- Sudden mood swings
- Difficulty eating and working
As the disease progresses, symptoms may increase or worsen.
Sadly there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s – although innovative new treatments and personalised care can help to reduce the impact of symptoms and improve wellbeing and quality of life for those who are affected by it.
Are dementia and Alzheimer’s the same?
No, dementia and Alzheimer’s are not the same. As mentioned above, dementia itself is not a disease – instead it’s a wider term which covers a variety of conditions. Alzheimer’s is a disease and is known as a cause or type of dementia.
What causes dementia? Can it be prevented?
Because dementia is the term used to cover a wide variety of symptoms, it’s not always possible to pinpoint the cause.
Everybody is different and experiences symptoms of dementia in different ways, in varying degrees.
Dementia can also be progressive, meaning that symptoms increase or intensify over time.
Dementia is usually diagnosed using a combination of physical, cognitive and neurological tests and in some cases, psychiatric evaluation. Brain scans can often reveal what type of dementia a person is suffering with.
There are over 100 known causes of dementia, but some of the most common include:
- Alzheimer’s: where abnormal tissues build up inside the brain causing nerve cells to die. This is the most common cause of dementia
- Vascular dementia: the second most common cause of dementia – which is triggered by a stroke or a series of ‘mini strokes’ which starve the brain of oxygen, causing parts of the brain to die
- Dementia with Lewy bodies: this rare type of dementia occurs when abnormal structures known as Lewy bodies form in the brain, causing nerve cells to die. Symptoms of this form of dementia can also include hallucinations and tremors
- Frontotemporal dementia: this type of dementia is caused by clumps of protein which form around the front part of the brain. This type of dementia more commonly develops in people under 60 years old.
Typically dementia suffers are over the age of 65, with the risk of developing dementia doubling every five years. General forgetfulness and memory issues are very common with old age and may not be linked to dementia. It’s also important to note that although dementia is commonly thought of as something which exclusively affects older members of the population, it can also affect younger people.
How we can help
At ComfortPlus we offer compassionate, tailored care support for people living with dementia and Alzheimer’s. Our highly trained and empathic care professionals provide dedicated, flexible care services designed to cover a wide variety of needs, from companionship and personal care to overnight and live-in arrangements.
If you’re looking for sensitive, respectful care for a loved one with dementia and would like more information on the support we provide, please get in touch with our friendly team today.
