What's the difference between dementia and Alzheimer's? Dementia is a broader category, whereas Alzheimer's is a type of dementia.
According to the NIH, more than six million Americans live with dementia, but more surprising is the fact that nearly half of Americans approaching retirement age will likely get it. Alzheimer's is not the same thing, though it is in the same ballpark -- and knowing which is which is essential.
In Chattanooga, TN, where the Tennessee River tumbles through the Appalachians, it's a burning question on everyone's minds what sets these two conditions apart. We'll discuss what they are, how they're different, and what you can do next for your senior.
What's the difference between dementia and Alzheimer's? Dementia and Alzheimer's both refer to types of cognitive decline. The reason people get them mixed up is that they inhabit the same sphere of brain health issues in seniors.
Dementia is a broad category that includes things like Parkinson's and Huntington's. People who have dementia generally deal with memory issues, cognitive challenges involving reasoning and focus, and abrupt changes in behavior. Having said that, saying someone has dementia is a bit like saying someone has cancer, a potentially unhelpful metric since there are so many different kinds.
Alzheimer's is but one species of dementia, and the most common kind to boot. Since so many people have Alzheimer's, it's easy to conflate that with dementia as if they were synonymous. What really sets Alzheimer's apart is the fact that memory loss tends to be the earliest and most pronounced symptom.
Alzheimer's seems to target the brain's learning center. As a result, Alzheimer's awareness is all about identifying a senior'schallenges with not just recollection, but also their critical thinking skills. Someone with a different type of dementia could have other symptoms in addition to memory troubles.
The early signs of dementia are critical to identify, since senior brain health is at stake. Let's look at a few indicators:
Bear in mind, this is not comprehensive, but it does cover the broad strokes. Importantly, don't be dismayed if you notice these symptoms in your senior. It's critical to keep a positive mindset around aging.
For the most part, no. If your senior's parents had dementia, it's likely only a coincidence. Dementia has a closer link to age than to genetics.
However, certain varieties of dementia may be passed down to younger generations. Alzheimer's could, in some rare situations, be genetic. Particularly if the disease manifests in a person significantly below the typical late-middle age development of Alzheimer's.
Remember, dementia is the umbrella term. Alzheimer's is a type of dementia focused on memory, learning, and reasoning. Here are five warning signs that it might be Alzheimer's specifically:
Notice how profound the effects on memory can be. Alzheimer's includes everything from someone leaving their keys in the fridge to being unable to remember the conversation they had with you yesterday. In addition to this, they may exhibit poor judgment and become stubborn while doing so.
It pains us to say that at the time of writing, dementia is incurable. However, our brilliant and intrepid scientists work tirelessly every day to change this. The disease itself may not be able to be eliminated for now, but treatments like memory care may mitigate the effects.
Memory loss education is vital for anyone with a middle-aged loved one in their life. Dementia and Alzheimer's symptoms can crop up seemingly out of nowhere, and if you're not paying attention, you might miss them. The sooner you identify symptoms, the sooner you can get your senior to a doctor for a proper prognosis and treatment plan.
It's vital to understand that seniors with dementia need treatment and care. Their challenges with memory and reasoning mean they could fail to take care of themselves or put themselves in a dangerous situation. Once you see the signs, it's time to intervene.
It's a grim question to ask, but it's worth asking. As in most cases, it depends, according to BrightFocus Foundation. The broad average, when accounting for a wide range of factors, is that people live nine years fewer with dementia.
What tends to happen with someone who has dementia is that there's a disconnect between their ability to communicate their needs and what they actually convey. As a result, they can easily get frustrated when they convey the wrong thing and you (understandably) fail to do what they really want. Treating dementia means learning to interpret someone's true needs.
Since dementia heavily impacts a person's ability to do basic things, sometimes a simple test can be quite illuminating. For example, crossing your fingers and asking a senior to mime the action. Dementia-afflicted individuals could struggle to a great degree because of the disease's impact on their motor skills.
What's the difference between dementia and Alzheimer's? Dementia encapsulates cognitive decline disease generally, whereas Alzheimer's is a specific subcategory distinguished by progressive memory issues. Fortunately, one can identify the early warning signs and thus seek immediate treatment.
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