These are the main differences between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
Dementia can occur in as many as 1 in 5 people. There are currently around 50 million living with this brain disorder worldwide. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. Figures show that about 70 percent of all people with dementia suffer from Alzheimer’s. What are the main differences between these diseases? We list them for you.
Dementia vs. Alzheimer’s
The main difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s is that dementia is an umbrella term for symptoms such as impaired memory and thinking that interfere with everyday life. Alzheimer’s disease is a specific form of dementia. Other types of dementia include vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease. The reason we often hear about Alzheimer’s disease is not only because it is the most common form of dementia, but also because the science behind Alzheimer’s is the most advanced compared to other types of dementia.
Common symptoms
Losing your keys and forgetting where you parked your car are basic memory problems. How do you know when it crosses the line to dementia or Alzheimer’s? According to the Alzheimer’s Association, two of the following must to be diagnosed and be must be ‘significantly compromised’:
- Poor memory
- Communication and language difficulty
- Difficulty focusing and paying attention
- Flawed reasoning and judgment
- Impaired visual perception
Curious about even more symptoms and possible treatments? Read more on the next page.
Page 1/2