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Alzheimer's Versus DementiaDifferences, Causes and Explanation of These IllnessesMany people assume that dementia means Alzheimer's. In reality they are two different entities. Their differences and causes are explored.
Alzheimer’s and Dementia are different entities, according to the Alzheimer’s Foundation and numerous experts on the subject. Very simply, dementia is a symptom. There are numerous diseases that can cause this. Alzheimer’s is a disease entity that can cause dementia. We will discuss both in more depth below. ForgetfulDementia is the decrease in intellectual capacity. These include a decrease in reasoning, remembering, altered moods and, behavior changes. The Alzheimer’s foundation states that this loss in mental capacity is due to essentially a deterioration and destruction of brain cells either from vascular deficiencies or other causes. There are many different disease states that fall under the classification of dementia and many are curable. A thorough diagnosis by a physician will be needed to distinguish and determine which disease state is present. Several diseases that fall under dementia include Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease, as examples. Non- disease states, such as dehydration can also cause similar symptoms. SenilityAlzheimer’s, is the most common form of dementia. Statistics given by the Alzheimer’s Foundation state that 64% of all dementias are due to Alzheimer’s. There are different forms of this disease. Some are inherited, while others aren’t. Invariably, Alzheimer’s involves the destruction and loss of brain cells resulting in shrinkage of the brain. The areas mainly affected are the hippocampus, which is involved in the process of new memories, the cerebral cortex, which is involved in critical thinking and memory and an increase in size of the ventricles, the fluid bearing areas of the brain. No one for sure knows the main causes of the disease, but the Alzheimer’s Association’s research has indicated that the loss of cells may be due to a variety of factors. These include fewer nerve synapses, making for poor nerve cell transmission and communication. Plaques, which are protein clusters that form between the nerve cells that also decrease nerve interaction. Dead nerve tangles that contain various proteins, that prevents various nutrients and foods from reaching the brain cells. Warning signsThe warning signs for each entity are similar. The Alzheimer’s Association list of symptoms include: a loss of memory and ability to do life skills, a lack of good judgement, misplacement of items, loss of language skills, mood and behavior swings, personality changes, inability to reason things out, inability to perform familiar tasks and disorientation of time and place. SummaryAlzheimer’s and dementia are different. One is a specific disease, while the other is a symptom. A trained physician will need to diagnose the problem, if any of the above symptoms appear. Diagnosis of dementia isn’t necessarily a death sentence. Needless to say, early diagnosis and management, can prevent or in the very least prolong the onset of the problem.
The copyright of the article Alzheimer's Versus Dementia in Alzheimer's Disease is owned by Cyrus Dehkan. Permission to republish Alzheimer's Versus Dementia in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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