Whether you’re studying for a career in senior care or your loved one has been diagnosed, it can be challenging to understand the differences between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. These conditions are intimately related yet separate, so they require distinct types of care. Below is a guide to the disparities between the two.

Dementia

When it comes to senior care, dementia is a frequently heard term that covers any type of decline in mental functioning. While dementia is most common in seniors, they’re not the only population affected by it. There are many different types of dementia — such as Alzheimer’s — with a range of symptoms. Patients can experience memory loss, lack of attention, cognitive decline, difficulty reasoning, lack of judgment or impulse control, or communication barriers. For a senior care professional to diagnose someone with dementia, at least two of the above symptoms must be present. Dementia care typically requires patients to live in a long term care setting, as they could otherwise pose a danger to themselves.

Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s is only one type of dementia that exists, but it’s the most common; it accounts for up to 80% of dementia cases in the U.S. Like many types of dementia, it worsens over time and has no cure — just treatments to slow its course and improve patients’ comfort. It’s characterized by plaques and tangles in the brain. While most patients are seniors, the early-onset form of the disease affects roughly 200,000 people under 65 years old.

Other Kinds of Dementia

Many different types of dementia exist. Huntington’s disease can cause dementia, wherein an abnormal gene affects the central part of the brain, causing mood, behavioral, and thinking issues. Dementia care is also usually required in Parkinson’s disease, which is believed to be caused by how the brain processes a specific protein; it’s marked by the presentation of Lewy bodies in the brain. Those diagnosed with it are likely to begin experiencing symptoms of dementia within a year of diagnosis. Another common form is mixed or multifactorial dementia, in which plaques, tangles, and Lewy bodies cause more than one type of dementia to occur simultaneously.

If your loved one needs compassionate senior care, reach out to The Vineyards at Concord in Frankfort, OH. Serving the Ross county area and beyond, they offer long term and respite solutions for seniors who need specialized services like dementia or Alzheimer’s care. They offer home cooked meals with fresh ingredients tailored to dietary needs, planned activities and social events, and personalized attention that includes rehabilitation and around-the-clock nursing care. Since 1986, they’ve prioritized safety, comfort, and a rich life for their residents and families. Learn more about their senior care services online, and call Barb at (740) 998-4779 to schedule a tour.