Dementia vs Alzheimer’s: Similarities and Differences

The terms dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are frequently used interchangeably, but there are subtle differences between the two. Please keep reading to learn more about the similarities and differences between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

What is Alzheimer’s disease?

Alzheimer’s disease is a common type of brain disorder in which changes in brain cells cause memory loss, changes in thinking skills, language problems, and an inability to perform simple tasks such as cooking meals, paying bills, or driving a car.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 6 million Americans are living with this disease affecting the brain. There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but several FDA-approved prescription drugs can help manage symptoms and slow disease progression. Examples of Alzheimer’s disease medications include cholinesterase inhibitors such as rivastigmine, galantamine, and donepezil.

What is dementia?

Dementia is an umbrella term for a group of symptoms, including short-term memory problems, difficulty remembering recent events, language problems, impaired reasoning or judgment, confusion, decreased focus and attention, personality changes, mood changes, and unpredictable behavior. These symptoms occur due to changes in nerve cells. People affected by dementia may be unable to perform everyday activities or live independently in the advanced stages of the disease and may require nursing home care. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia.

Risk factors for dementia include:

Over 65 years old
A family history of dementia
An unhealthy diet
Lack of exercise
Excessive alcohol intake
Smoking
Diabetes
Cardiovascular risk factors like high blood pressure and high cholesterol
Depression
Head trauma
Sleep disturbances
Nutritional deficiencies
Air pollution
Certain medications that can worsen memory

Does all dementia turn into Alzheimer's?

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia symptoms. According to the Alzheimer’s Society, it accounts for 60-80% of cases of dementia. However, a person can have other types of dementia, such as:

Vascular dementia caused by damage to blood vessels in the brain.
Lewy body dementia in which abnormal clumps of protein called Lewy bodies form in the brain.
Frontotemporal dementia which affects brain cells in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain.
Mixed dementia in which more than one type of dementia is present.

In addition, people with the following disorders can develop symptoms of dementia:

Traumatic brain injury.
Parkinson’s disease dementia.
Huntington’s disease.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

What are the similarities and differences between Alzheimer's and dementia?

The main difference is that dementia is a general term for a group of symptoms, while Alzheimer’s disease is a specific brain disease. The changes in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease start many years before the symptoms of dementia begin to show.

The similarities are that even though Alzheimer’s is a specific disease, it causes similar symptoms as other types of dementia. Also, the treatments for Alzheimer’s and other dementias overlap.

How can you tell if a person has Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, or mixed dementia?

Only a healthcare professional can diagnose the type of dementia when symptoms start. Keep in mind that it is not always possible to tell what type of dementia a person has, particularly in the early stages when the first signs of the disease become evident.

Imaging studies such as CT scans, MRIs, and PET scans can help doctors rule out diseases that are similar to dementia, see changes in brain cells, detect abnormal buildup of protein, assess brain activity, and study the flow of blood in the brain to differentiate between the different types of dementia. These studies can also help a doctor find out whether a person’s dementia is severe or getting worse and tailor the treatment accordingly.

Here are some of the common symptoms seen in the different types of dementia:

Alzheimer’s disease symptoms

Most people develop early symptoms of cognitive decline and changes in memory, reasoning, and thinking skills. These can be followed by confusion, behavior changes, and other difficulties as the disease progresses.