Alzheimer’s Disease vs. Dementia

9/28/2021

By: Jonathan Beary, D.O.

Dementia is not a specific disease, rather a group of symptoms caused by disorders that affect the brain. Dementia may develop gradually or very quickly. Functions that may be affected by dementia include:

• Decision-making, judgment
• Memory
• Thinking, reasoning
• Verbal communication

Many different diseases can cause dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal degeneration, and Parkinson’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. It accounts for 60-80 percent of all dementia cases. Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of the death in the United States six million Americans suffer from the disease. It is a progressive brain disorder that gets worse over time, destroying brain cells that control thought, memory and language.

The first sign of Alzheimer’s disease is often forgetfulness. As the disease progresses, symptoms worsen, memory loss becomes severe and daily activities, such as eating and dressing, become more difficult. Patients in later stages of Alzheimer’s may fail to recognize familiar people and places. It is common for people in these stages to show aggression and anxiety. It is important to understand that Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging. The disease usually develops after the age of 60 and the risk increases with age. On the other hand, people as young as 30 have developed the disease.

Physicians and scientists do not yet fully understand what causes Alzheimer’s disease. However, scientists believe the following risk factors may be associated with Alzheimer’s disease:

• Age. This is the most important known risk factor. The number of people with the disease doubles every five years after age 65.
• Family history. Scientists believe genetics may play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, which occurs between the ages of 30 and 60, is inherited. The more common Alzheimer’s disease that occurs later in life has no obvious inheritance pattern, although the risk is slightly higher for those who have an immediate family member with Alzheimer’s. The only gene identified for the late-onset Alzheimer’s disease is a gene that makes one form of a protein called apolipoprotein E (ApoE). Only about 15 percent of people have the form that increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
• Sex. Women are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s.
• Lifestyle. High blood pressure and high cholesterol may increase the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Some studies have shown that keeping physically and mentally fit, especially in later years, reduces the risk of developing the disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is typically diagnosed by ruling out other diseases and conditions that cause memory loss, such as a brain tumor. Physicians typically rely on the following to properly diagnose Alzheimer’s:

• Medical history. Physicians need to know about the person’s general health and past medical problems.
• Blood tests. Physicians may order blood tests to help rule out other causes of the dementia, such as thyroid disorders or vitamin deficiencies.
• Mental evaluation. These tests screen memory, problem-solving abilities, attention span, counting skills and language.
• Brain scans. By looking at images of the brain, physicians are able to identify visible abnormalities.

Using these methods, physicians are able to accurately diagnose 90 percent of Alzheimer’s cases.

Unfortunately, there is no treatment that can cure Alzheimer’s disease. However, there are medications used to slow the progression of the disease. Research continues and there have been accelerating efforts to find better ways to treat symptoms, delay onset or prevent Alzheimer’s disease. If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms associated with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, consult a neurologist.

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