Differences between Alzheimers and Dementia

Differences between Alzheimer’s and Dementia

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder characterized by an irreversible and gradual decline in the individual’s cognitive abilities (Feldman, 2018). When it starts, the symptoms of Alzheimer’s appear as sheer forgetfulness of such important things as birthdays and appointments. As the illness progresses, there is profound memory loss, and one is likely to forget even the most basic tasks like using the phone. Eventually, the victim will likely lose their speech or comprehension of language and physical deterioration that leads to death. It is still unclear what causes Alzheimer’s. However, increasing evidence suggests genetic factors such as defections in protein beta-amyloid production, which is needed to maintain nerve cell connections. Whereas Alzheimer’s disease is particularly a progressive brain syndrome that impairs memory and cognitive brain functions, dementia is a common word that refers to a cluster of symptoms that adversely affect memory (Alzheimer’s Association, 2022). Accordingly, the most significant cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease: it is associated with approximately 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases (Alzheimer’s Association, 2022). In addition, dementia is not necessarily a part of aging. Rather, it results from brain cell damage, which impacts the cells’ ability to communicate, hence affecting one’s feelings, behavior, and thinking. Dementia does not just entail sheer memory mishaps such as forgetting one’s name. Subsequently, an individual with dementia is likely to experience negative effects on two or more of the following: memory, concentration and focus, judgment and reasoning, speech and communication, and visual perception (Miller, 2020). Generally, the key difference is that Alzheimer’s is a particular brain disease, whereas dementia is a general disease that refers to various symptoms that negatively impact memory.

References

Alzheimer’s Association. (2022). Dementia vs. Alzheimer’s disease: What is the Difference? https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/difference-between-dementia-and-alzheimer-s

Feldman, R. S. (2018). Essentials of Understanding Psychology (13e). McGraw Hill Education.

Miller, K. (2020, July 31). Alzheimer’s vs. Dementia. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/guide/alzheimers-and-dementia-whats-the-difference

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In one paragraph, explain the difference between Alzheimer’s and Dementia.