These two neurological diseases are often confused. We explain the similarities and differences.
It’s true that having reduced mobility or serious heart disease is not desirable, but neurological ailments are really raw.
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Neurodegenerative diseases: Alzheimer and dementias
Our memory is made up of experiences, knowledge, people we have met and a lot of moments that have generated both joy and sadness. Losing all this is losing ourselves and it is like dying in life.
Alzheimer’s is widely known to be the cause of memory loss in many people , which worsens over the years, reducing the autonomy of people who suffer from it.
In society, despite the fact that this disease has become known, there are many people who believe that suffering from dementia and suffering from Alzheimer ‘s is the same, but it is not.
Both concepts, as neurological ailments, are related, but they have some peculiarities that differentiate them, although it is true that they share characteristics.
Let’s see what the differences are between the well-known Alzheimer’s disease and dementias.
Relationship between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
When speaking of dementia, reference is made to a set of signs and symptoms produced by some type of brain alteration, that is.
This problem causes the loss of cognitive abilities , as well as problems in mood and behavior. This means that the person suffering from dementia cannot carry out daily activities independently, since there is a loss of autonomy and, over time, they need to depend on family members and other caregivers.
The causes behind dementia can be several, but the main one is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative condition that falls under the umbrella of dementias, along with vascular, Lewy body, and frontotemporal dementias.
It is estimated that one in ten people over the age of 65 suffers from some type of dementia, the most common being Alzheimer’s. For this reason, it is not surprising that both concepts are confused and sometimes taken as synonyms.
Main differences between these neurological conditions
Next, we will see in greater depth the relationship between dementias, understood in its broadest sense, with respect to Alzheimer’s disease, showing all the particularities of the disease that make it stand out from other types of dementias.
1. Symptoms
Dementia, as a broad concept and which refers to a syndrome, is defined by a series of signs and symptoms common to dementias, while in Alzheimer’s a set of them occurs more specifically.
The symptoms of dementia vary depending on what causes it , as well as individual differences in the progression of the syndrome. At first they may be milder, but as time goes by there may be an increase in severity.
Often the first symptoms in people with dementia are memory-related problems, such as carelessness and forgetfulness. In addition, there may be problems with orienting oneself in time and also getting lost in familiar places.
As dementia progresses, episodes of memory loss and confusion increase. It becomes increasingly difficult to remember names and imagine faces of familiar people.
In more advanced stages of dementia, it may happen that the person reformulates questions that they had already asked and that had been answered, with less concern for personal hygiene and decision-making problems.
In addition to these symptoms, there is a decline in the ability to think and problems with communication.
In the most severe cases, dementia prevents people from being able to take care of themselves, as well as causing emotional problems such as aggression and depression.
The first symptom of Alzheimer’s is usually memory problems , as in most dementias. Difficulty remembering recent events and conversations.
The person may also show less interest in activities that previously interested him.
As time goes by, Alzheimer’s disease becomes more and more noticeable, increasing confusional episodes and planning problems.
In the later stages of the disease, severe symptoms such as aggressiveness, depression , urinary incontinence, hallucinations, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, loss of physical health, and decreased motor skills are recorded.
2. Causes
As you get older, you are more likely to develop some form of dementia . Age is a risk factor for developing them, but it is not the only one.
Some risk factors for dementia can be controlled, such as smoking, being overweight, or not getting enough physical activity. Diet has also been associated with an increased risk of cognitive problems in old age.
Other aspects of more difficult control that influence the development of dementia are viral infections, such as having HIV , vascular diseases, such as strokes, diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol, Parkinson’s disease, Down syndrome , multiple sclerosis, depression and substance abuse. Alzheimer’s disease appears to be the cause of 75% of dementia cases .
The exact cause of Alzheimer’s is unknown, although as with other dementias, age is a risk factor. Also, having a direct relative diagnosed with this disease and being a woman increase the probability of suffering from it.
Some factors that influence the progression of the disease are having a low premorbid cultural level, having dangerous eating habits for heart health and a sedentary life.
3. Effects on the brain
In Alzheimer’s disease, damage to the brain may have begun several years before the first symptoms appear .
In this disease, deposits of abnormal proteins accumulate, forming plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. In addition, the connections between the neurons are damaged, progressively disappearing and the brain cells die. Due to this, the brain is “drying” and “narrowing”.
In the case of dementia, as a concept that serves as an umbrella and which includes neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s itself, Parkinson’s, Lewy Body dementia… Damage to the brain can be various.
4. Mortality and life expectancy
In the case of Alzheimer’s, this disease is usually what ends up causing the death of the person who suffers from it, while in the case of dementia, this neurological condition does not have to be the direct cause of death.
Life expectancy after Alzheimer’s diagnosis is about ten years.
5. Treatment
In many cases, dementia is not reversible. However, there are various treatments that can slow down its progress and palliate the symptoms that have already manifested .
On many occasions, treating problems that the person already manifested, such as hypoglycemia, tumors, metabolic disorders or stopping drugs, serves as a treatment for dementia itself.
In the particular case of Alzheimer’s disease, it can be said that there is no treatment that can cure this condition , but there are ways to delay its progression and prevent it from affecting the person’s daily life soon.
The drugs used in Alzheimer’s disease are aimed at treating behavioral problems and the lack of memory itself. antipsychotics, cholinesterase inhibitors, rivastigmine and memantine.
Some less conventional treatments are also used, such as coconut oil and fish oil.
In case there are sleep disturbances and mood problems, you can also opt for the pharmacological option in your treatment.
Bibliographic references
- American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Fifth edition. DSM-V. Mason, Barcelona.
- Olazarán, J. and Muñiz, R. (2009). Map of Non-Pharmacological Therapies for Dementias of the Alzheimer Type. Technical initiation guide for professionals. Maria Wolff Foundation and International Non Pharmacological Therapies Project.
- Förstl, H. & Kurz, A, (1999). Clinical features of Alzheimer’s disease. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience 249(6): 288-290.
- Waring, S.C. & Rosenberg, R.N. (2008). Genome-wide association studies in Alzheimer disease. Arch. Neurol. 65(3): 329-34.
To the classic question “what do you do?” I always answer “basically I am a psychologist”. In fact, my academic training has revolved around the psychology of development, education and community, a field of study influenced my volunteer activities, as well as my first work experiences in personal services.
