Dementia or Alzheimer’s – what’s the difference?

People often ask what the difference is between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Dementia is the overall term for a group of symptoms caused by the death of brain cells.

Alzheimer’s disease is just one cause of dementia though, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, it does account for about 60% to 80% of all cases.

Vascular dementia is the second most common cause. This happens as a result of impaired blood flow to the brain. It happens, for example, when people have either one major stroke or lots of mini strokes.

Other common types are: Dementia with Lewy Bodies which is closely linked with Parkinson’s Disease.

Frontal Lobe Dementia – also known as Fronto Temporal Dementia. This happens when the parts of the brain at the front of the head are affected.

It is not unusual for people to have a mixture of causes so someone could have Alzheimer’s disease and Vascular dementia. This is called Mixed dementia.

Each part of the brain is responsible for different actions in our bodies. That is why the symptoms showing up in your loved one depends on which part of their brain is affected. It is also why each person’s symptoms will be different.

The sad truth is that their brain is dying slowly, bit by bit. As each bit goes, their symptoms will get worse.

Alzheimer’s disease begins in the Hippocampus which is responsible for holding onto new information and making new memories. This is why someone will ask you the same question dozens of times and still not be able to remember the answer. Knowing this does not make it any less irritating for the caregiver who is asked ten times what we are having for dinner but it may make it more understandable when you realise that they simply can not remember because that part of their brain is dying.