Connect
You may use the terms Alzheimer’s and dementia as if they mean the same thing, but they’re really two different terms. Here’s the difference.
Dementia is a syndrome linked to problems with remembering, learning new things, focusing and making decisions that affect everyday life. It’s an umbrella term that includes thinking (cognitive) problems that interfere with someone’s normal day-to-day functioning.
Dementia can affect behavior, decision-making, memory, language, visual or spatial perception, and attention, among other areas of daily living. More than one of these areas is usually affected, but one area may be more affected than another.
There are four main types of dementia:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Vascular dementia
- Lewy body dementia
- Frontotemporal degeneration
In other words, Alzheimer’s disease is a form – or cause – of dementia. Dementia, on the other hand, isn’t a specific disease. Dementia is a syndrome. Dementia is also an overall term – sometimes referred to as an umbrella term — that describes a range of symptoms.
Each form of dementia has different characteristics and causes specific symptoms. Because dementia describes a range of symptoms and many disorders, it’s possible to have symptoms of more than one disorder at the same time.
Alzheimer’s disease is one cause of dementia, but it’s not the only one.
Learn more about Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia in Mayo Clinic on Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, recently published by Mayo Clinic Press.
Like
Helpful
Hug
Connect
Very interesting, new to me.
I was aware of this. My mother's dementia was brought on by strokes, which affected her mental abilities without muscular symptoms. My primary care doctor at Mayo took her on as a patient and we got her blood pressure and other factors stabilized, but her mental abilities continued to decline over time. She didn't experience the mood swings commonly found with Alzheimer's, which was a blessing, but her dementia was still a terrible life stealing process.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionAny Lewy body folks out there?
Hi Marty, Allow me to connect you with others talking about Lewy body dementia.
First, check out these sections of the Dementia: Hub
— Lewy Body Dementia Video Series: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/lewy-body-dementia-video-series/
— Lewy Body Dementia Summit post-event video information: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/lewy-body-dementia-summit-post-event-video-information/
Meet other members in these discussions:
- Lewy Body Dementia at age 51: Anyone else with early onset LBD? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/lewy-body-dementia-at-age-51/
- Communicating Challenges With Lewy Body and Dementia https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/communicating-challenges-with-lewy/
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI care for my 73 year old wife with Lewy body dementia.
These past few months she has started loosing her hair and I'm starting to see scalp on crown of her head. Has anyone else experienced this?
We are in the third year of our journey with this disease. Her health otherwise is good, her appetite is hearty, and mobility is still good but slow. I know if this hair loss progresses it will have a negative effect on her mental state. She has always been so beautiful and meticulous about her looks. She is only on a statin and blood pressure med so i doubt the hair loss is due to medication. She does cry sometime from the frustration of not being able to communicate like she once did. Sadness, depression, and stress from the disease are the only things i can come up with to possibly explain her hair loss. Any advice?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction