Prestige Assisted Living at Lancaster

Alzheimer’s Disease vs. Dementia: What’s the Difference?

By Mindy Mendoza-Perry Executive Director, Prestige Assisted Living at Lancaster

Did you know the word dementia is not a disease, but an umbrella term used to describe a group of symptoms caused by other conditions? Dementia is marked by the loss of cognitive function including remembering, reasoning and thinking. This includes behavioral abilities that can interfere with every day activities such as language skills, memory, visual perception, problem solving and self-management. While dementia is more common as people grow older, it is not a normal part of aging.

The causes of dementia can vary depending on the types of brain changes that take place. There are over 400 types of dementia with Alzheimer’s disease being the most common. Other types of dementia include vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia and frontotemporal disorders. Additionally, it’s common for people to have mixed dementia which is a combination of two or more types of dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease accounts for between 60% - 80% of all dementia cases, and it is marked by a progression of three stages; early stage, middle stage and late stage as symptoms worsen over time. The most common early symptom is difficulty remembering newly learned information. This happens because Alzheimer’s disease typically begins in the part of the brain that affects learning. As the disease progresses, so does the severity of the symptoms that may include disorientation, mood or behavior changes, confusion about events and more serious memory loss to name a few.

Vascular dementia is considered the second most common cause of dementia, accounting for 5% - 10% of cases. It is caused by conditions that reduce or block blood flow to various areas of the brain, depriving them of nutrients and oxygen. Symptoms are generally most obvious when they occur after a stroke that has caused vascular damage, or multiple small strokes that affect blood vessels and nerves deep in the brain. The symptoms include confusion, disorientation, trouble speaking or understanding speech, difficulty walking or poor balance. Experts believe both Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia is underdiagnosed even though it’s recognized as common.

Lewy body dementia is a term used to describe dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson’s disease dementia. Lewy body dementia is a type of progressive dementia where Lewy body protein deposits form clumps inside the areas of the brain that control memory and movement. This causes neurons to work less effectively, also affecting the activity of certain brain chemicals, resulting in damage to the brain and a decline in ability. In addition to dementia symptoms and cognitive fluctuations, another symptom includes visual hallucinations.

Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. If you or a loved on are experiencing memory loss, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. Early diagnosis can help determine if the symptoms are truly due to Alzheimer’s disease, or something that might be a treatable condition. If there is a diagnosis by a medical professional, early detection may give you access to a treatment plan including clinical trials that may lessen the symptoms for a period.

To learn more about the Lancaster assisted living community, services and award-winning memory care program call (661) 949-2177 or visit www.PrestigeCare. com