Are Alzheimer’s and Dementia the Same Thing?
We get this question often at Visiting Angels. The answer is that Alzheimer’s and dementia are not the same thing. Many people use the terms as synonyms, but the reality is that Alzheimer’s is only one of the causes for dementia. The easiest way to understand the difference between them is that dementia is a syndrome – a set of symptoms that can have more than one cause. Alzheimer’s is a disease that causes dementia.
The symptoms of dementia include:
- Memory loss
- Trouble concentrating
- Trouble communicating
- Trouble with judgment
- Problems with vision, such as inability to tell colors apart
The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include the following:
- Memory loss, including short-term memory loss
- Loss of judgment and reasoning ability
- Trouble communicating
- Confusion
- Mood swings
- Aggressive behavior
- Asking the same question over and over
- Changes in behavior patterns
- Trouble eating, walking etc.
As you can see, the type of dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease has a longer set of symptoms, although there’s a lot of overlap with other types of dementia.
Alzheimer’s disease causes between 60 and 80% of dementia cases. A person can develop Alzheimer’s disease without any family history, but the disease is more common in those who have a parent or sibling with Alzheimer’s.
There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but the disease is manageable with the right Caregiver. So, what makes a Caregiver a good choice for a family member with Alzheimer’s? At Visiting Angels, our Caregivers are trained to provide care with Compassion, Patience, and Empathy – the qualities most needed in dealing with the symptoms of this disease.
Elderly patients with Alzheimer’s disease or any other form of dementia usually respond better to third parties such as a Caregiver than they do to family members. Contact Visiting Angels today to get the help you need.