Dementia vs. Alzheimer's Disease: What Are the Differences?

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Table of Contents

Symptoms

Causes

Diagnosis

Treatment

Prevention

Frequently Asked Questions

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Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are two medical conditions that share many similarities. This often causes people to mix up the conditions.

The easiest way to distinguish them is to think of dementia as an umbrella term used to define cognitive decline, which causes memory loss and thinking difficulties.Alzheimer’s diseaseis the most common type of dementia.However, its symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment can be distinguishable from other forms of dementia.

This article discusses the differences between Alzheimer’s disease and thebroader definition of dementiaand why distinguishing between various forms of dementia is essential. It also covers how to recognize the symptoms and causes of Alzheimer’s and what treatment options there are.

Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia; as a result, it features many symptoms of dementia. However, there are several forms of dementia, each with its own defining characteristics and symptoms.

Knowing the generalsymptoms of dementiaand thesymptoms of Alzheimer’s diseasecan help you distinguish Alzheimer’s disease from other forms of dementia. You can see from the list below there is a significant amount of overlap.

DementiaCognitive changesMood and personality changesSpeech and language impairmentsBehavior changesProblems with motor functioningImpaired perceptionAlzheimer’sCognitive changesMood and personality changesDifficulty with communicationBehavior changesImpaired perception

DementiaCognitive changesMood and personality changesSpeech and language impairmentsBehavior changesProblems with motor functioningImpaired perception

Cognitive changes

Mood and personality changes

Speech and language impairments

Behavior changes

Problems with motor functioning

Impaired perception

Alzheimer’sCognitive changesMood and personality changesDifficulty with communicationBehavior changesImpaired perception

Difficulty with communication

A hallmark feature of Alzheimer’s disease is trouble remembering new information as well as progressive memory loss.

Symptoms of Dementia

Rather than viewing dementia as a disorder on its own, it will be helpful to look at it as a group of symptoms that cause cognitive decline.

Symptoms of dementia often cause a person to become forgetful. It’s important to note that dementia is distinct from normal forgetfulness, which might occur in older people.

The most common symptoms of dementia include changes in cognition, communication, mood, personality, behavior, and motor activity:

Cognitive Changes:

Behavioral changes:

Mood and Personality Changes:

Speech and Language:

Motor functioning:

Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease

Many of the symptoms of dementia can be seen inAlzheimer’s disease, such as memory loss, decline in cognitive function, and mood and behavioral changes. However, there are a few distinguishing features.

Due to the cognitive changes and memory loss, some of the most common symptoms of Alzheimer’s include:

Early Signs of Dementia Checklist

There are many contributing factors to the development of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.

Causes of Dementia

Certain conditions or factors could be responsible for thedevelopment of dementia. Some of the most common conditions or syndromes that have been linked to dementia include:

Understanding Primary Progressive Aphasia, The Lesser Known Dementia

Causes of Alzheimer’s Disease

While Alzheimer’s disease has been proven to cause dementia, scientists are still struggling to identify a particular cause of the disease. However, several factors have been linked to the development of the condition. The most common include:

Dementia is not a normal part of aging

There are several types of dementia. Correctly diagnosing if a person has Alzheimer’s disease instead of any other form of dementia is essential for the effective treatment of the condition.

Diagnosis of Dementia

Dementia diagnosis primarily focuses on what may be causing a person’s dementia symptoms. This means that your doctor will try to determine whether it’s Alzheimer’s or any other condition responsible for your dementia symptoms.

The diagnostic process typically involves a series of cognitive and physical evaluations with medical tests, brain scans, and blood work. Your doctor will also take a detailed look into your medical and family history.

In some instances, the doctor might discover that more than one condition is responsible for your dementia symptoms.

Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease

Beta-amyloid is a protein found to abnormally build up in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, which means its symptoms worsen over time.

Early diagnosis is key to treating the disease efficiently and extending a person’s life expectancy with this condition.

Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease can be treated with a combination of medication, lifestyle changes, and psychotherapy.

Treatment of Dementia

The FDA has approved certain medications, including cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine, that have been proven to improve cognitive function to treat dementia.

In severe cases, a combination of both medications might be prescribed.Where other severe behavioral or sleep symptoms are exhibited, medication for that might also be prescribed with caution.

Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive and terminal disease that currently has no known cure. The good news is that there are treatment options that reduce the severity of its symptoms and improve the functioning of a person with this condition.

A new medication is on the market that is meant to treat Alzheimer’s itself, and not just the symptoms.

Are We Close to an Alzheimer’s Cure?

Psychotherapy

Various forms of psychotherapy are available for people experiencing symptoms of dementia, regardless of which type. A few examples are:

How Music Affects Those With Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are conditions that can develop anytime, but typically in our older years. As a result, researchers are constantly looking at how to prevent these conditions at earlier ages.

A 2017 study found that exercising regularly, monitoring your blood pressure, and engaging incognitive trainingcould prevent cognitive decline, which could cause dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

A healthy lifestyle is always recommended to prevent illness and disease, which includes balanced nutrition, adequate sleep, physical activity, and stress management.

RecapAlzheimer’s disease and dementia are medical terms that are often used interchangeably. However, dementia is an umbrella term used to describe several illnesses affecting different parts of the brain, which can manifest in unique sets of symptoms that characterize each disease process. Alzheimer’s disease is one of these conditions. In fact, it’s the leading type of dementia in the world today.

Recap

Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are medical terms that are often used interchangeably. However, dementia is an umbrella term used to describe several illnesses affecting different parts of the brain, which can manifest in unique sets of symptoms that characterize each disease process. Alzheimer’s disease is one of these conditions. In fact, it’s the leading type of dementia in the world today.

Final Thoughts

Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are similar conditions that are often used interchangeably. Although they share several similarities, it’s important to distinguish their differences. Alzheimer’s disease is a neurological condition and is considered to be a type of dementia. Dementia causes cognitive decline, leading to memory loss, thinking difficulties, and difficulties in carrying out daily tasks.

Distinguishing which type of dementia you have ensures you get the most effective treatment for your condition. Unfortunately, there’s no cure yet for Alzheimer’s; however, it can be treated with a combination of medication, lifestyle changes, and psychotherapy.

Coping With Alzheimer’s Disease

Frequently Asked QuestionsThere is currently no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease. However, several treatment options can extend a person’s life expectancy with the condition. On the other hand, some forms of dementia can be reversible in certain instances (where it’s the side effect of drug abuse, a removable tumor, or stroke). Treating these conditions could reverse the symptoms of dementia.Genetics can play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s/dementia; however, even if someone in your family does not have the disease, you can still develop any form of dementia, including Alzheimer’s.Alzheimer’s disease is a fatal condition; however, it is progressive in nature, and people can live many years with it.However, over the last decade, researchers and scientists have made significant strides toward better treatments, with the goal of developing a cure for the disease.

There is currently no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease. However, several treatment options can extend a person’s life expectancy with the condition. On the other hand, some forms of dementia can be reversible in certain instances (where it’s the side effect of drug abuse, a removable tumor, or stroke). Treating these conditions could reverse the symptoms of dementia.

Genetics can play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s/dementia; however, even if someone in your family does not have the disease, you can still develop any form of dementia, including Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s disease is a fatal condition; however, it is progressive in nature, and people can live many years with it.However, over the last decade, researchers and scientists have made significant strides toward better treatments, with the goal of developing a cure for the disease.

17 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.La Jolla Institute for Immunology.Alzheimer’s disease.Alzheimer’s Association.Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures.Alzheimer’s Society.Dementia symptoms and areas of the brain.National Institute on Aging.What are the signs of Alzheimer’s disease?Cleveland Clinic.Dementia: symptoms, types, causes, treatment & risk factors.National Institute on Aging.What causes Alzheimer’s disease?National Institutes of Health.Combination of healthy lifestyle traits may substantially reduce Alzheimer’s.Stanford Medicine.Dementia diagnosis.National Institutes of Health.Accurate blood test for Alzheimer’s disease.National Institute on Aging.How is Alzheimer’s disease diagnosed?Overshott R, Burns A.Treatment of dementia.Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. 2005;76(suppl 5):v53-v59. doi:10.1136/jnnp.2005.082537National Institute on Aging.How is Alzheimer’s disease treated?Yale Medicine.Lecanemab, the new Alzheimer’s treatment: 3 things to know.Sukhawathanakul P, Crizzle A, Tuokko H, Naglie G, Rapoport MJ.Psychotherapeutic interventions for dementia: a systematic review.Can Geri J. 2021;24(3):222-236. doi:10.5770%2Fcgj.24.447National Academies of Sciences Engineering Medicine.Preventing cognitive decline and dementia: A way forward.Alzheimer’s Association.Is Alzheimer’s genetic?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.US death rates from Alzheimer’s disease increased 55 percent from 1999 to 2014.

17 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.La Jolla Institute for Immunology.Alzheimer’s disease.Alzheimer’s Association.Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures.Alzheimer’s Society.Dementia symptoms and areas of the brain.National Institute on Aging.What are the signs of Alzheimer’s disease?Cleveland Clinic.Dementia: symptoms, types, causes, treatment & risk factors.National Institute on Aging.What causes Alzheimer’s disease?National Institutes of Health.Combination of healthy lifestyle traits may substantially reduce Alzheimer’s.Stanford Medicine.Dementia diagnosis.National Institutes of Health.Accurate blood test for Alzheimer’s disease.National Institute on Aging.How is Alzheimer’s disease diagnosed?Overshott R, Burns A.Treatment of dementia.Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. 2005;76(suppl 5):v53-v59. doi:10.1136/jnnp.2005.082537National Institute on Aging.How is Alzheimer’s disease treated?Yale Medicine.Lecanemab, the new Alzheimer’s treatment: 3 things to know.Sukhawathanakul P, Crizzle A, Tuokko H, Naglie G, Rapoport MJ.Psychotherapeutic interventions for dementia: a systematic review.Can Geri J. 2021;24(3):222-236. doi:10.5770%2Fcgj.24.447National Academies of Sciences Engineering Medicine.Preventing cognitive decline and dementia: A way forward.Alzheimer’s Association.Is Alzheimer’s genetic?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.US death rates from Alzheimer’s disease increased 55 percent from 1999 to 2014.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

La Jolla Institute for Immunology.Alzheimer’s disease.Alzheimer’s Association.Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures.Alzheimer’s Society.Dementia symptoms and areas of the brain.National Institute on Aging.What are the signs of Alzheimer’s disease?Cleveland Clinic.Dementia: symptoms, types, causes, treatment & risk factors.National Institute on Aging.What causes Alzheimer’s disease?National Institutes of Health.Combination of healthy lifestyle traits may substantially reduce Alzheimer’s.Stanford Medicine.Dementia diagnosis.National Institutes of Health.Accurate blood test for Alzheimer’s disease.National Institute on Aging.How is Alzheimer’s disease diagnosed?Overshott R, Burns A.Treatment of dementia.Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. 2005;76(suppl 5):v53-v59. doi:10.1136/jnnp.2005.082537National Institute on Aging.How is Alzheimer’s disease treated?Yale Medicine.Lecanemab, the new Alzheimer’s treatment: 3 things to know.Sukhawathanakul P, Crizzle A, Tuokko H, Naglie G, Rapoport MJ.Psychotherapeutic interventions for dementia: a systematic review.Can Geri J. 2021;24(3):222-236. doi:10.5770%2Fcgj.24.447National Academies of Sciences Engineering Medicine.Preventing cognitive decline and dementia: A way forward.Alzheimer’s Association.Is Alzheimer’s genetic?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.US death rates from Alzheimer’s disease increased 55 percent from 1999 to 2014.

La Jolla Institute for Immunology.Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s Association.Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures.

Alzheimer’s Society.Dementia symptoms and areas of the brain.

National Institute on Aging.What are the signs of Alzheimer’s disease?

Cleveland Clinic.Dementia: symptoms, types, causes, treatment & risk factors.

National Institute on Aging.What causes Alzheimer’s disease?

National Institutes of Health.Combination of healthy lifestyle traits may substantially reduce Alzheimer’s.

Stanford Medicine.Dementia diagnosis.

National Institutes of Health.Accurate blood test for Alzheimer’s disease.

National Institute on Aging.How is Alzheimer’s disease diagnosed?

Overshott R, Burns A.Treatment of dementia.Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. 2005;76(suppl 5):v53-v59. doi:10.1136/jnnp.2005.082537

National Institute on Aging.How is Alzheimer’s disease treated?

Yale Medicine.Lecanemab, the new Alzheimer’s treatment: 3 things to know.

Sukhawathanakul P, Crizzle A, Tuokko H, Naglie G, Rapoport MJ.Psychotherapeutic interventions for dementia: a systematic review.Can Geri J. 2021;24(3):222-236. doi:10.5770%2Fcgj.24.447

National Academies of Sciences Engineering Medicine.Preventing cognitive decline and dementia: A way forward.

Alzheimer’s Association.Is Alzheimer’s genetic?

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.US death rates from Alzheimer’s disease increased 55 percent from 1999 to 2014.

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