Is it Alzheimer's, Dementia, or Something Else?

All forms of dementia are not the same. There are many types of brain diseases or conditions that cause cognitive impairments in thinking, memory, and judgment. Often there is confusion on the difference between these conditions and how they are treated.

Research shows that people can have multiple diseases that can affect the brain, generally chronic progressive conditions. There is no cure for most causes of dementia, but the importance of the right diagnosis can inform the most appropriate treatment, the best care, and a plan for the future.¹

The aging brain

There has been much reporting about the effects of aging on the brain.

Some of it is evidence-based science, while other "information" is based on opinions, fads, and social media suggestions. We do know that damage to particular brain regions is associated with different types of dementia.²

What is Alzheimer's?

Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. It accounts for 60 to 80 percent of all cases of dementia.^1,2

Alzheimer's is characterized by a buildup of plaques and tangles in the brain. But there are other causes for the varied forms of dementia.

What is dementia?

Dementia is a broad term used to describe a decline or deterioration in mental ability that interferes with daily functioning.²

It is not a specific disease. It affects behavior by causing changes in memory and mood, interfering with thinking, concentration, and judgment. This impacts the daily life of patients and their families.

In making a diagnosis of dementia, 2 or more core mental functions are deemed significantly impaired, including:

• Memory
• Communication and language
• Ability to focus and pay attention
• Reasoning and judgment
• Visual perception

Diagnosing Alzheimer's and dementia

There is no definitive diagnostic test for Alzheimer's. They are diagnosed after collecting substantial information, including a complete medical history, physical exam, blood work, and reported changes in thinking and functioning.

There are risk factors for developing dementia. These include age, genetics, heart health, lack of regular use of mental faculties, inconsistent social interaction, exercise, and diet.

As with many medical conditions, it is recommended not to smoke and to maintain healthy blood pressure, cholesterol level, blood sugar level, and a healthy weight.

Reversing symptoms?

Some forms of dementia are not chronic or permanent. During an exam, it is possible that symptoms that appear to be dementia are due to a treatable condition. A small percentage of dementias are reversible. They are usually due to side effects from other medical conditions.³

Medication interactions or reactions are the most common causes of reversible dementia. Dietary or vitamin B12 deficiencies, infections, tumors, alcohol or drug abuse, inflammatory and hormonal dysfunction, environmental toxins, and chronic depression can also lead to changes in mental health.³

Other types of dementia

Other types of dementia include:

• Early-onset dementia: Occurs when symptoms start before age 65. It represents 2 to 8 percent of dementia cases.
• Mild cognitive impairment: Involves difficulty with memory, language, thinking, or judgment, greater than the changes associated with normal aging.
• Vascular dementia: Can be caused by stroke or blood vessel damage and oxygen deprivation. One-third of the people who have strokes go on to develop dementia and represent up to 10 percent of dementia cases. This raises the importance of vascular health and stroke prevention.
• Mixed dementia: Has characteristics of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.
• Frontotemporal dementia: Affects areas of the brain that control personality, language, and behavior. It can cause insensitivity, and inappropriate behavior or decision-making. Represents less than 10 percent of dementia cases.
• Parkinson's dementia: Caused by a build-up of alpha-synuclein proteins in the brain when there is a decline in thinking and reasoning, experienced a year or more after the onset of motor symptoms.
• Lewy body dementia: Affects thinking and movement. It is characterized by abnormal deposits of alpha-synuclein protein inside neurons.
• Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD): A rare and fatal form of dementia. It's caused by a protein found in the brain called a prion.
• Huntington's disease: A genetic disorder that causes nerve cells in the brain to die. It can cause personality changes such as irritability, depression, and mood swings, and eventually trouble with memory, concentration, or decision-making.