What is the difference between Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia?

im suprise nobody has answerfor this one either .
i too dont know the diffrents of alz and dementia .
i tried lookin up on the internet and it sounds like to me theyre both the same .
my understanding is dementia they go downhill alot quicker than alz .
alz it goes a long way and on on , dementia its bam a big drop then bam a big drop . alz it goes down hill slower ??
am i right on this one anybody ???
stroke mini stroke s causes dementia . but my sister had mini stroke and dr says she has stage one alz , so i dont realy know ..
hope we find the answer soon .. anybody ????

lhardebeck, I copied this from the internet. There is a big difference between the two. Maybe you already read this.

Alzheimer's Disease is not a normal part of aging
misplacing car keys. Not remembering a familiar name. Some people do become more forgetful as they get older. That's a normal part of aging. Alzheimer's disease is not.

Alzheimer's disease gradually destroys a person's memory and ability to learn and carry out daily activities such as talking, eating, and going to the bathroom. As the disease progresses, individuals may also experience changes in personality and behavior. Unfortunately, there are no cures for Alzheimer's disease and there is no way to predict how fast someone will progress through the stages of the disease

ok thank you . so what is dementia ?? what is the diffrence in alz and dementia ? pumkin711 wanted to know , and i realy didnt know either .
was told that alz carries on and on , dementia theres a gap of a big drop down ..
lord it just sad , horrible disease .

There are many different forms of dementia, Alzheimers being one of them. They haven't figured out what causes that type of decline. There is also Vascular Dementia, caused by strokes.
The symptoms of the disease are all very similar, but the patterns of decline are slightly different.
Hope this helps somewhat.

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain that results in dementia. The terms Alzheimer's and dementia are often used interchangeably, but there's a distinct difference between them.

Sometimes symptoms that look like Alzheimer's are actually due to a reversible medical condition, such as depression or delirium. These conditions aren't types of dementia -- they're reversible problems that mimic Alzheimer's disease and other dementias

Dementia is a broader term than Alzheimer's and refers to any brain syndrome resulting in problems with memory, orientation, judgment, executive functioning, and communication.

Alzheimer's they found a proteen that causes the webbing. You can find anything on the two on the internet.

Hope this helps

What are the symptoms and progression of vascular dementia brought on my a stroke? Is there treatment, is it progressive??
Thanks

redmax2610, Treatment of vascular dementia
Because vascular dementia is closely tied to diseases of the heart and blood vessels, many experts consider it the most potentially treatable form.

Monitoring of blood pressure, weight, blood sugar and cholesterol should begin early in life. Managing these risk factors, avoiding smoking and excess alcohol, and treating underlying diseases of the heart and blood vessels could play a major role in preventing later cognitive decline for many individuals. In some cases, active management of these factors in older adults who develop vascular dementia may help symptoms from getting worse.

Once vascular dementia develops, there are no drugs currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat it.

Most of the drugs used to treat cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease have also been shown to help individuals with vascular dementia to about the same extent they help those with Alzheimer’s. However, in March 2006, Eisai Co. Ltd., manufacturer of donepezil (Aricept), reported that in a clinical trial of donepezil for vascular dementia, a significantly greater number of deaths occurred in study participants receiving donepezil than in those taking the placebo.
I FOUND THIS ON THE INTERNET, HOPE THIS HELPS

reba ,thank you for searching for us who wants to understand it ,
you have found a good site to explain it clearly .
you have a good eve and cmas day ok . be thinking about you ..
merry christmas to all of you ..

lhardebeck, Thank you and you have a very blessed day. I also wish everyone else a Merry Christmas. Hope your day is full of joy. Hugs to you too.

Let's define "dementia" and "Alzheimer's":
What is Dementia?

• Dementia is defined as “a global impairment which affects intellectual functioning, memory and at least one of the following: abstract thinking, judgment and language; identification of people and objects; personality changes and ability to use objects appropriately.”

• It is a syndrome or group of symptoms caused by 102 disease entities

• There are about 70 irreversible and progressive types of dementia, ultimately leading to death

• The most common cause of irreversible dementia is Alzheimer’s Disease. Alzheimer's Disease is a TYPE of dementia.

• Dementia affects every part of the brain—“global impairment”

• Of all individuals suffering from dementia, approximately 70% have Alzheimer’s Disease or Alzheimer’s Disease coupled with another dementing illness (For example, Lewy Body Disease, Multi- Infarct dementia, Vascular Dementia, etc.)

- 15% of people with dementia have Multi-Infarct/Vascular Dementia without Alzheimer’s Disease
- 5% have Lewy Body Disease without Alzheimer’s Disease
- The remaining 10% have dementia caused by other very rare diseases


What is Alzheimer's Disease?
The MOST COMMON type of dementia. The occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease is most common among the very old.

• Current estimates indicate that:
- 3% of those 65-74 have the disease
- 19% of those 75-84 have the disease
- 47% of those 85+ have the disease

• In the normal brain, for any neuron or brain cell to survive, three interrelated systems are in effect:
- Communication—facilitated by neurotransmitters
- Metabolism—enabling cells to feed and breathe
- Repair—allowing cells to repair and renew themselves

• In the brain affected by Alzheimer’s Disease:
- Communication signals between brain cells diminish
- Metabolism is impaired as tangles develop inside the brain
- Repair is disabled as plaques develops in the arteries
- Plaques and tangles produce mistakes throughout the brain eventually resulting in cell death

So, you see, "dementia" is the brain disease and Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of it. People who have Alzheimer's do indeed have dementia.

Because we are all individuals, we respond differently when we have Alzheimer's disease. The same can be said for people that have any of the forms of dementia (such as vascular dementia, etc.). Some may have a catastrophic response, be scared, have much difficulty remembering things, act abnormally, demonstrate unusual behaviors...and others will respond more "mildly", without such behaviors. The good news is, there are some things that can help.

Wanted to say about vascular dementia. I am not sure how old that report is but you can check with your doctor, I am sure you know that. There is a lot on the internet about it.

Thanks, Reba..I have asked my Dad's Doctor..all he says is that it is Vascular Dementia, pulls down his glasses when he looks at me and says "and it is only going to get worse." This tells me it is not reversible..and upsets me.
So far my Dad's blood, cholestrol and weight are under control, but blood pressure fluctuates. He will do nothing but sit in his chair, he refuses to exercise, walk, even tho he can. If his level of understanding and cognisive ability is waning, even with the maintenance and proper drugs, my fear is that the lack of activity both physical and mental, will be his demise. He gets extremely angry at me when I suggest he get up and move around, and I think he is fearful of the outside world. he only sticks his head out the door to get the mail, sometimes. I feel so frustrated as I want to help him help himself, but he is fighting me all the way.

Alzheimer's disease is a form of dimentia. One may have dimentia without having alzheimer's.

N1K2R3, That is true and that is what we have been saying.

redmax2610, It is best just to let them do what they want, as long as they don't do something that could hurt them. My doctor said he would become like a child and he is. I don't know if you have read what I have said to others but that is what my doctor said, it will only get worse.

Blood pressure is a problem with Ed too. It fluctuates a lot. If he is in pain it goes way up to 197/210. But they will not do anything at the hospital to bring it down.. They said if they bring it down too fast it could cause him to have a heart attack or a stroke. So I have medication I can give if it stays up.

It is a hard job taking care of someone. I have to put myself in his place and think of how I would feel. If I could think at all. Don't make your dad do things he doesn't want to do. You will have more peace. I just make sure Ed is clean, fed and I try to keep him safe. God be with you. You do what you can do and let it go at that.

Thanks Reba..Youre last paragraph is good advice that I will follow..Have Blessed Christmas and I appreciate your support.

redmax2610, You are welcome. Merry Christmas to you too.

yes keep him comfertable , my dad too sits around watches tv or sleeps alot . there isnt anything elders can do , cant walk and almost barely can talk .
try to strike up conferstation as much as you can , keep his mind going . make him happy is all i can do .
sometimes i talk about bussniess that perks him up . alot of time i would ask him for advice and he sure can give me a good advice , wise man i say ...
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO U ALL

LJHardebeck, OK, here's something that you can do for your Dad: Keep interesting magazine around! If he likes science,then let him read Popular Mechanics, Popular Science etc. If he likes Engineering, the try C. and E. News. If he likes buisness, then how 'bout Forbes? Kiplinger's? INC Magazine etc. I know when I grow very old, I would want to be surrounded by magazines, except I like Decorating and Architecture.

Norene

N1K2R3, Good idea, but my husband is so far gone, nothing holds his interest. I tried believe me I did. He found it was too easy to set and look at the floor. He was a very smart man at one time and a college one at that. But all of that is gone and now it is the simple things for him. He is at the point where he sometimes doesn't know what to do in the shower. When they get this far gone it is best just to let them be. He has gone this far in one year. We think it has been coming on for over 5 years. But the ones that can and are willing, keep them thinking. That is what the doctor said.

my dad s hands cant hold much of anything , barely hold a cup . i did handed him a magz last summer he just looked at it like what ya wanna me do with it ??
he cant hardly pick up his pill . hands just dont funtion right . he used to play cards many years but not anymore ,
i wish he could but no he cant .
all he wants to do is lay in recliner and sleep and watch tv , also eat . if its nice out he loves to go bye bye , go for a joy ride . he likes watching news and weather channel or something interstin on tv . most of all he rather lay in bed and listen to his pasty cline , thats only at night time when hes in bed for the night ...

lhardebeck
My Ed doesn't want to do anything but sleep and he eats very little. Loves cookies and ice cream and I let him have anything that he will eat.

I was told that dementia and Alzheimers are the same disease, but at different stages. Dementia being the beginning, and Alzheimers at the end of the scale being the worst.

No there are 4 or 5 diseases that attacks the brain. The reaction is about the same. Called Dementia. More to it but that about tells like it is.

Dementia is a symptom of any number of illnesses that cause deteriation of cognitive function. Alzheimer's Disease is one of those diseases. Vascular Dementia is another, though as research continues, vascular issues are more closely related to Alzheimer's Disease than once thought. Recent research for preventation seems to indicate that health habits that are good for the cardiovascular system are also good for prevention of AL. Other types of dementing illnesses include Lewey Body Disease (often associated with Parkinson's Disease) and Frontal Lobe Dementia which impacts impulse control and can be particularly diffficult with behavior issues. Think of the word "dementia" as a symptom as "fever" is a symptom of flu, colds, etc. Hope this helps make the distinction.

Yep that is what I have been saying

Hi everyone,
My mom has dementia--she's 86. She can be totally with-it conversationally--she knows which grandkid is doing what, what's going on everywhere. But she also embellishes with outrageous stories--sometimes very interesting and funny. She is also very stubborn and many times won't allow caregivers to help her change (incontinent) and wants to fire them all.
Dad, 91, was caring for himself--showers, shaving, dressing. He fell recentlly and now displays dementia like symptoms as well. My sisters and I are overwhelmed and need to move them into a facility with more care. But we don't know where to move them, what type of facility, and the emotional roller coaster is devastating.
Karen

Sad karenm, Not easy to get old and have others boss you around. We are free and can do what we want. We don't know how we will act when it comes to our turn. Be kind as much as possible and remember our day is coming too. Treat her the way you want to be treated. They don't feel well at times and it can make a person nasty. I don't know where you could put them but I am sure you will hear from someone on here that can help. God bless.

Alzheimer's disease is a specific form of dementia. Dementia is the broad term or (brown bag). There are many and various forms of dementia. Often someone is diagnosed with alzheimer's disease without testing. There are now medications that help delay the progression of alzheimer's. Sadly nothing cures it, Researsh is being done however. The biggist risk for alzheimer's is age. So my generation is safe I think because most of us won't live to be old like our elders now.

Disease is when it effects the brain no matter which disease you have, causes Dementia. Dementia meaning they can no longer do the things they use to. Like talking, walking, eating, dressing, seeing things and people that are not there, forgetting who they are or family, etc. They can no longer be left alone. Strokes, damages to the brain from a fall, anything that causes the brain to start breaking down. Alzhiemer's is caused by a proteen that builds up a webbing in the brain. I would add more but right now I don't have the time. You can find it all on the internet. I read just the other day they are now blaming what they put in our food. Well maybe but I don't believe that one. This is what I have been told too so if I am wrong please feel free to correct me.