Most people use Alzheimer’s and dementia interchangeably without establishing if there is something that sets the two apart. Although there are similarities between the terms, they aren’t the same thing. Those who want to be familiar with the term might find a lack of distinction frustrating to handle.
If you’ve been confused between the terms Alzheimer’s and dementia, you’re not alone. Thousands each year receive diagnoses in memory and it’s vital to tell the difference between these life-changing titles. Read on to learn more about if there’s something that sets these two apart and other valuable details.
What is Alzheimer’s?
Alzheimer’s is a specific disease. It leads to memory loss, a decline in cognitive function, and shifts in mood and behavior. Over time, a person will become less and less like who they were before the disease.
Protein plaque and tangle build up in the brain with Alzheimer’s, inhibiting the work of neurons and stopping mental function and memory. As more time passes, Alzheimer’s will destroy significant brain cells and lead to the death of the individual.
Alzheimer’s impacts each diagnosed person differently. Some experience a rapid decline, while others are more slow and steady. Some have issues with their mood, others are not as vulnerable in this area. Every situation varies.
Related: 7 Signs Your Parents Need More Help
What is the Life Expectancy of Someone With Alzheimer’s?
Alzheimer’s is one of the most common brain conditions, especially in older adults, so there’s been ample research on the subject. Once diagnosed, the typical life expectancy for someone with Alzheimer’s is around 8-10 years. This lifespan drops the older the diagnosed person is. An 80-year-old won’t make it as long as a 50-year-old.
There are some recorded cases where a person makes it past this life expectancy, pushing on for upwards of 15 years. Again, Alzheimer’s is a disease that impacts everyone differently.
What is Dementia?
Rather than a specific disease, dementia is an umbrella term and a syndrome. Thus, many diseases fall under dementia, which is why more than 55 million individuals worldwide are diagnosed with the disorder.
Dementia tends to impact cognitive functions, such as memory. Many diseases can lead to Dementia, with Alzheimer’s being the most common.
Types of Dementia
Dementia is a syndrome. Thus, there are many forms of dementia under the singular umbrella term.
Here are a few types of dementia:
- Dementia with Lewy Bodies: Here, protein deposits impact the nerve readings. There is a change in thinking, body movement, and more.
- Vascular dementia: There is plaque in the arteries and it can lead to trouble in the brain. These symptoms can appear suddenly or slowly.
- Mixed dementia: This disease brings about multiple types of dementia. You can have multiple symptoms at once.
- Huntington’s disease: This rare condition causes brain nerve endings to break down. Bladder control, cognition, and more can fail.
These are four of dozens of dementia varieties.
There are some ways to prevent dementia, but other ways where it’s random and out of your control. Some forms of dementia are so rare they only happen to hundreds of people, rather than millions.
Symptoms of Dementia
Dementia is unnoticeable at first to those unfamiliar because of the strange way it manifests itself. There are a few vital indicators to watch for in an at-risk individual.
Common symptoms of dementia include the following:
- Confusion
- Repetitive questioning
- Poor hygiene
- Poor decision making
- Change in behavior
- Depression
- Aggression
These can manifest over time in a person with dementia. The earliest stages of dementia include light confusion and loss of familiarity, while the later symptoms include depression and other intense feelings. They begin mild, which causes many to overlook them.
Related: Resources for Caring for Aging Parents
How is Dementia Diagnosed?
Doctors go through several possibilities to diagnose dementia. Each technique exists to ensure the patient receives the best treatment and their diagnosis is positive to best prepare for the future.
Common methods of dementia diagnosis include the following:
- Neuropsychological and cognitive tests
- Brain scans
- Neurological evaluation
- Psychiatric evaluations
- Laboratory tests
Each offers a different layer to the diagnosis. The goal of a diagnosis is to note a pattern of skill and function loss, indicating something more severe below the surface. Multiple of these tests will likely be necessary to accurately diagnose.
Is It Possible to Prevent Dementia?
Unfortunately, it’s not possible to completely prevent dementia at this time. However, it’s been shown that living a healthy lifestyle could reduce some of the biggest risks of the disease.
Ways to provide a better chance of avoiding dementia include the following:
- Healthy weight
- Healthy diet
- Low blood pressure
- Normal blood sugar
- Physical and mental health
- Connection with family and friends
- Good sleep
- Prevention of head injuries
There are many individuals studying dementia to try to find a cure or preventative methods. In the meantime, keep your body as healthy as possible.
Treatments for Dementia
There is no permanent treatment or solution for dementia. However, several products are effective at limiting or temporarily reducing some of the worst dementia symptoms.
Current treatments include the following:
- Cholinesterase inhibitors: This treatment boosts levels of memory and judgment chemical messengers.
- Memantine: This treatment regulates glutamate activity.
- Other medications: There are often other medications that can reduce other symptoms.
None of these are permanent.
There is hope that the future will provide a medication to stop symptoms and reduce the process of dementia in the brain. However, we aren’t there yet. These are the best resources for the treatment of the mind with dementia thus far.
Dealing With Alzheimer’s and Dementia
Alzheimer’s and dementia are similar, with Alzheimer’s a specific disease and dementia the general term for many diseases like Alzheimer’s. While it’s unfortunate there is no cure for dementia right now, the future is hopeful. Right now, the best thing you can do is care for your body and keep it healthy to keep your brain in optimal condition.
Whether you’re concerned about dementia or have a diagnosed loved one, it’s helpful to know what you’re getting into. Learn more about caring for someone with one of these debilitating diseases in this article 7 Books to Help You Through Your Caregiving Journey.
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