Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are not the same. Dementia is a blanket word that refers to various symptoms that affect memory, everyday activities, and speech.
The most frequent kind of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive illness that impairs memory, speech, and cognition.
Dementia and Its Causes
Early signs of dementia, which may be modest, are easily overlooked. It usually starts with bouts of forgetfulness. Dementia patients have difficulty keeping track of the time and might become disoriented in familiar environments.
You’re more prone to get dementia as you become older. It happens when specific brain cells are injured. Degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease are examples of ailments that can cause dementia, and each cause of dementia damages a separate group of brain cells.
Alzheimer’s Disease and Its Effects on the Brain
Dementia refers to a range of symptoms that affect memory, whereas Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disease that gradually impairs memory and cognitive function. The precise reason is unknown, and there is no treatment.
Years before symptoms occur, brain damage begins. In patients’ brains, insoluble protein deposits produce plaques and tangles, then cells start to die when interconnections between them deteriorate. The brain could also shrink dramatically in advanced instances.
While a person is living, it is hard to make an accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Only until the brain is studied under a microscope during an autopsy can the diagnosis be verified. However, specialists can still make the proper diagnosis 90% of the time.
Alzheimer’s Disease Vs. Dementia Symptoms
Alzheimer’s disease and dementia symptoms might overlap, although there are key distinctions.
Both circumstances can result in:
- Deterioration in one’s capacity to think
- Impaired memory
- Communication difficulty
The symptoms of Alzheimer’s include:
- Having trouble recalling previous events or talks
- Apathy
- Depression
- Hindered decision-making
- Disorientation
- Confusion
- Alterations in behavior
- In the latter stages of the disease, you may have trouble speaking, swallowing, or walking
Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment
There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, although there are specific treatments that can help control the illness’s symptoms:
- Antipsychotic medicines, for example, are used to treat behavioral abnormalities
- Memory loss drugs include the cholinesterase inhibitors donepezil (Aricept) and rivastigmine (Exelon), as well as memantine (Namenda)
- Alternative therapies, such as coconut oil or fish oil, attempt to improve brain function or general health
- Medicines for sleep disorders
Dementia Treatment
In certain circumstances, addressing the underlying illness that causes dementia may be beneficial. The following conditions are the most likely to respond to treatment:
- Drugs
- Tumors
- Metabolic disorders
- Hypoglycemia
Choose Rittenhouse Village At Valparaiso’s Memory Care Program
SHINE® Memory Care is the exclusive memory care program of Rittenhouse Village At Valparaiso. We provide long-term care that fits the particular requirements of each dementia-stricken patient. Our service includes, but is not limited to, daily living activities help, medical monitoring, and supervised care. If you want to know more about our memory care program, please reach out to us.
