Alzheimer’s or Alzheimer disease is an ailment. Dementia is a symptom. This is the primary difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia.
The medical world at large and the generic public awareness are quite perplexed when it comes to Alzheimer’s and dementia. Most people regard dementia as a condition in itself and a huge majority of people regard dementia to be a milder version of Alzheimer’s. Another popular opinion or perception exists that dementia is the same as Alzheimer’s. In fact, there are many definitions in the medical world where Alzheimer’s is known as a form of dementia and likewise dementia is often known as a form of Alzheimer’s.
Characteristics of Dementia and Alzheimers
All these perceptions are actually wrong and factually incorrect. Dementia is like a symptom to an underlying condition. In that sense, dementia is like fever. When someone has fever, it isn’t clear what ailment is causing the fever and fever in itself is not a medical ailment or disease. If the underlying condition is treated then the fever subsides. Else, fever sustains until the time the underlying condition causing the fever is cured.
The same applies to dementia and Alzheimer’s. Dementia would indicate that the person may be suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. However, it cannot be said for sure at the first stages. Dementia can be caused by many conditions.
Dementia, as a symptom, is a condition wherein the memory of a person worsens over time and one or more cognitive abilities would be impaired. For instance, along with failing to recollect everything a person may struggle to understand a language, may not relate to people or may lose his or her organizing abilities. Lack of reasoning or poor spatial skills are also some common cognitive problems that are associated with dementia.
Dementia can be caused by vitamin deficiencies or some thyroid problems and there are many types of dementia such as vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, chronic traumatic encephalopathy and Lewy Body disease. All these do not indicate Alzheimer’s for certain.
However, the most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. A person having dementia may not have Alzheimer’s but a person having Alzheimer’s would have dementia in all likelihood.
Apart from this difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia, there are many similarities between the two. Both are chronic conditions and worsen over time. Both are associated with old age and often cannot be cured. Dementia, however, can be reversed if it is not caused by Alzheimer’s.
