Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are often confused, but they are different. Dementia is a broad term for symptoms caused by brain disorders, while Alzheimer’s disease is a specific condition that accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases. Alzheimer’s is just one type of dementia, but not all dementias are Alzheimer’s.

Symptoms of dementia include memory loss, problems with thinking and language, and changes in mood or behaviour. Alzheimer’s and other dementias share similar symptoms, but some types show different patterns. For instance, frontotemporal dementia mainly affects personality early on, whereas Alzheimer’s typically starts with memory loss.

Dementia affects different parts of the brain. Alzheimer’s impacts most areas, while frontotemporal dementia mainly affects the frontal and temporal lobes, responsible for personality and behaviour.

Risk factors for dementia overlap, but some are more specific. Stroke can lead to vascular dementia, and genetics are a key factor in the rare Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Treatment varies depending on the type of dementia. Alzheimer’s has medications to manage symptoms, but other types, like Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, have no treatments to slow progression.

In short, Alzheimer’s is a specific type of dementia, but dementia includes many other diseases with different symptoms, brain areas affected, and treatments.

By: Diane Alavie, Pharmacist