Understanding the Difference Between Alzheimer’s and Dementia

senior woman and man sit out couch talking about memory care

September marks World Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. This means our focus this month should be on further understanding what Alzheimer’s Disease is and how it compares to dementia.

Knowing the difference between the two can help you ensure your loved ones get the best care possible. To help you out,  we have outlined the similarities and differences between Alzheimer’s and dementia. We also have some tips on how you can help your loved ones to cope with such a diagnosis.

What Is Dementia? 

So many people use dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease interchangeably, but there are some key differences. Many of us hear the words “memory loss” and immediately think it’s Alzheimer’s. However, that’s not always the case.

So, what is dementia? By definition, dementia is a chronic or persistent disorder of the mental processes caused by brain disease or injury and marked by memory disorders, personality changes, and impaired reasoning. Sometimes the symptoms of dementia can be reversed due to changes in diet or the addition of medication.

It is imperative to remember that dementia is a generic term that doesn’t refer to any specific disease. Many memory-related disorders fall under the dementia umbrella. Here are some of them: 

Lewy Body Dementia occurs when abnormal clumps of protein form on the brain’s cortex (which deals with memory and learning).

Frontotemporal Dementia occurs when a person loses nerve cells in the front and sides of their brain, causing personality and behavior changes.

Vascular Dementia occurs when there’s not enough blood getting to the brain.

Parkinson’s Dementia develops in many people with Parkinson’s disease, resulting in a loss of cognitive ability.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease develops when a prion protein folds into an odd shape, damaging other brain cells.

Huntington’s Disease is caused by an inherited gene that affects the central area of the brain, causing a decline in thinking, movement, and emotions.

Mixed Dementia is diagnosed when a person has more than one type of dementia.

People who may be suffering from dementia could potentially have any of the following symptoms.

What Sets Alzheimer’s Disease Apart from Dementia?

Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia, but dementia can be more than what you would see in someone with Alzheimer’s disease. It’s complicated, but on the most basic level – Alzheimer’s is one of the forms of dementia that is irreversible and progressively gets worse as time goes on.

After the age of 70, the possibility of getting Alzheimer’s increases. That being said, there is another form of Alzheimer’s disease that can hit people who are younger than 65 – Early Onset Alzheimer’s.

While most people will experience some form of memory loss the older they get – it’s just a part of aging – not as many of them will ever get diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. One of the most difficult things about Alzheimer’s disease is how unpredictable it can be to your loved ones once they are diagnosed.

The disease affects not only their memory but also their moods, physical balance, awareness, and overall independence.

There are early warning signs that your loved one may have Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. 

Problem with numbers: If your loved one has difficulty completing simple arithmetic or subtraction problems – like balancing a checkbook or counting the number of items in the pantry, this can indicate a cognitive decline. Something as simple as balancing a checkbook together can help you to keep an eye on this possible early warning sign.

Word usage or speech patterns: Some individuals who may eventually have dementia begin to alter their speech patterns, or they may have difficulty using words that have never been problematic before. This may manifest itself in stuttering or searching for quite some time for the right words to use.

Challenge with regular tasks: Keep an eye out if your older loved one has difficulty completing routine, around-the-house tasks or jobs. While it is common to see seniors moving more slowly as they age, they should be able to perform daily activities like folding clothes or starting the dishwasher. They might need more assistance if these tasks become a challenge.

Withdrawal from social events: Just as individuals who feel under the weather are less likely to want to party it up with friends, seniors who feel the beginning stages of dementia may also retreat from social situations. Those with dementia may find it difficult to remember people’s names, occupations, or other pertinent facts, and short-term memory concerns can make it difficult to maintain a comfortable conversation.

Time or location confusion: Having a senior moment is one thing, but an individual completely forgetting where they are is another concern altogether. Also, if your senior friend or family member asks, “when is breakfast?” – at three in the afternoon, clarify whether they really feel that it is breakfast time or if they simply want eggs for dinner. Being confused as to the time or present location is a possible indicator of a bigger concern.

Misplacing items: We’ve all misplaced keys, phones, or wallets at one time or another, but the ability to retrace our steps is a saving grace that can help us to find our lost items. Those with dementia are often unable to retrace their steps – so investigate whether your older loved one has actually lost an item, or whether there is a lack of ability to recall previous steps that may lead to discovering the lost piece.

How Can We Support Our Loved Ones Through Memory Loss?

Losing your cognitive ability is difficult for anyone. As a loved one to someone who is going through this life change, it is just as confusing and hard to manage. 

However, Accessible Home Health Care is here to guide you through those challenging moments with either hands-on support or advice on the best way to maintain your loved one’s quality of life.

There are five steps to take that you can ensure your loved one’s home life is safe for them as their mental functions start to decline. 

Evaluate Their Needs: As their memory goes, your loved one’s other abilities will also start to falter. Evaluating their behavior, health, and abilities will go a long way toward keeping them safe. It will help you assess what steps you need to take pre-emptively to keep them safe in their own home.

Remove Harmful Objects: The loss of independence and abilities comes with an added side effect of not realizing the harm certain things can have. Taking stock of your loved one’s home and placing safety locks on cabinets and drawers can help tremendously. Also, being aware of stove settings, sharp objects, and medications that can cause injury is important as well. Take measures to ensure your loved one can’t access them as easily.

Look Out For Tripping Hazards: As your loved one progresses through their Alzheimer’s diagnosis, they might struggle with balance and physical awareness. Making sure their home is free of clutter or rugs that could trip them up will work wonders for their confidence as their independence fades.

Improve Fire Safety: Often, your loved one is going to forget to turn off the stove or unplug things like heating blankets. You can take measures to ensure that their home is still safe despite these potential fire hazards. You can put knobs on the stove settings so your loved one can’t change them, or you can choose a timed room heater as an alternative.

Consider In-Home Health Care: Most importantly, you don’t have to weather these changes alone. Your loved one deserves to have their quality of life preserved when their independence starts to fade. A fantastic solution for this is finding an in-home health care provider, such as Accessible Home Health Care.

Beyond making their home safe, there are ways that we can support our loved ones through major life changes. Being there for them and supporting what they can do is so important to their improved quality of life as they lose independence.

Remembering that your loved one is still the person they have always been is extremely important. Their independence may be going away, but the respect and honor they deserve are not. 

Talk to them about what they want out of their life and health care while you still can. Having that conversation will make you feel more confident about their care wishes and allow them to feel like they are still loved and respected. These conversations can go a long way toward easing both you and your loved one’s worries.

Ultimately, your loved one is going through a whole new life journey, and so are you. Keeping love and respect at the forefront will make the transition easier for all involved.