How Alzheimer's and Dementia Differ from Each Other

Dementia is a broad word indicating deterioration in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life, whereas Alzheimer's is a specific disease. The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer's.

The terms dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are not interchangeable. Even though Alzheimer's and dementia share symptoms, they are two unique conditions. One principal difference between dementia and AD is that there is no way to diagnose dementia. Doctors diagnose Alzheimer's using biomarker testing and observation. Home Care Phoenix has some useful info for you;

Dementia Is Not A Disease

Dementia is classified as a syndrome rather than a disease because it is a group of symptoms present in 13 different illnesses, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's. Dementia does not cause AD. On the contrary, researchers believe that Alzheimer's causes dementia.

Alzheimer's And Dementia Affect Different Parts Of The Brain

Alzheimer's disease only affects the brain's cortex. The cortex is a nerve cell containing tissue covering the cerebrum and cerebellum, whose outer layer is commonly called gray matter. The cerebral cortex governs motor function.

• Touch sensation
• Response to external stimuli
• Speech

The hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for learning and memory, is within the cortex. Alzheimer's impairs all of the above functions.

Dementia can occur in either the cortex or sub-cortical region of the brain. Sub-cortical structures are a collection of nerve formations found deep within the brain.

The Causes of Alzheimer's And Dementia Differ

Scientists have identified some of the conditions that lead to developing dementia. The exact causes of Alzheimer's remain a mystery. Suspected risk factors in AD development include age, Down syndrome, genetics, and slightly impaired cognition.

Dementia causes include brain blood vessel damage, infection-induced fever, thyroid dysfunction, and diabetes. Medication and vitamin shortages raise dementia risk.

Substance abuse, heavy metals, and a larger brain increase dementia risk. Huntington's and Parkinson's are other dementia-causing illnesses.

Alzheimer's And Dementia Progress Differently

The progression of the five main kinds and 200 sub-categories of dementia do not follow a set pattern. Its cause determines how dementia advances. In the case of vascular dementia brought on by transient ischemic attacks or "mini-strokes," the advancement of dementia can be erratic. During a 5-10 year period, Alzheimer's disease progresses in six predictable stages.

Some Forms Of Dementia Are Reversible

Once the cause is isolated, some dementias can be reversed or cured. Dementia caused by a vitamin deficiency or prescription drug interaction is an example of reversible or curable dementia. At the moment, there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease. There are only methods to try and slow AD progression.

Alzheimer's is a disease, and dementia is a syndrome. Dementia can affect two areas of the brain, where AD only affects one. Alzheimer's and dementia have common and differing causes. Some forms of dementia are curable. Alzheimer's disease and dementia progress differently.

Treatment for Dementia and Alzheimer’s

There is no cure for Alzheimer's, but you can overcome symptoms by these:

• Medications for behavioral abnormalities and memory loss issues.
• Natural remedies to improve brain function, such as fish oil.
• Anti-depressants and sleeping pills.

While In some cases, treating the condition that leads to dementia might help. Most treatable dementias include:

• Drugs
• Tumors
• Metabolic disorders
• Hypoglycemia

Dementia rarely reverts. Many kinds are curable. Medication can treat dementia. Causes determine dementia treatments. Cholinesterase inhibitors are commonly used to treat Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and LBD dementia.

Their therapies differ, but their care is the same. Dementia and Alzheimer's patients need family caregivers or Phoenix Home Care Service staff.