Alzheimer’s vs. Dementia
Have you ever wondered about the difference between Alzheimer's disease and dementia?
Dementia is a general term used to refer to a person's loss of cognitive function including remembering, thinking, and reasoning. Alzheimer's disease is a specific type of dementia, but not the only one.
Common symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s include:
Memory loss
Poor judgment and reasoning
Decreased focus and attention
Changes in one’s ability to read, write and/or speak
Having trouble with normal, daily tasks
Mood and personality changes
While both dementia and Alzheimer’s disease seem very similar, there are a several things that differentiate the two.
Dementia symptoms can develop from diseases other than Alzheimer’s including Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease.
Alzheimer's disease is not reversible. Once an individual is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, the disease will continue to progress over time. Some causes of dementia can be reversed with proper treatment.
Onset age can be different between dementia and Alzheimer’s. Ninety-five percent of those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease are 65 years or older, while dementia caused by other diseases can start much earlier.
In the late stages of Alzheimer’s, an individual can experience difficulties in physical abilities including sitting, walking, and swallowing.
To learn more about this topic, please contact us at 678-359-1426.