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Dementia vs Alzheimer’s Disease: Key Differences & Symptoms

Studies show that about 4% of American adults over 65 have some form of dementia, and nearly 7 million have Alzheimer’s disease. While many people use the terms dementia and Alzheimer’s to describe cognitive decline in older adults, they’re actually not the same thing.

Alzheimer’s itself is a form of dementia, and knowing this difference is important for family members to provide the right type and level of care.

Let’s take a look at the different types of dementia, as well as the differences between dementia vs. Alzheimer’s disease. This understanding of conditions can make it easier for you to support your loved one the best you can.

The Umbrella Concept: Defining Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease

Dementia is an umbrella term that refers to different symptoms of cognitive decline. It’s not a specific condition itself, as various types of dementia can affect the mind and body in different ways. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia that slowly causes the loss of memory and thinking skills.

The symptoms of dementia affect a person’s behavior, memory, and thought processes, making it challenging to navigate daily life. Each form of dementia has its own cause and can have specific symptoms that apply only to that type.

A simple analogy helps people remember the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease​. You can think of dementia as a bowl of fruit and Alzheimer’s as an apple, a specific kind of fruit, inside the bowl. All the other types of dementia could be oranges, bananas, and so on.

Comparing Symptoms and Identification Patterns

Dementia is more than the common idea that older people forget things. However, memory loss and difficulty recalling recent events can be part of the set of symptoms a person experiences with cognitive decline. People with dementia show difficulty with at least two of the following things:

  • Memory and recall
  • Reasoning, judgment, and decision-making
  • Communication and speech
  • The ability to stay concentrated on a task
  • Balance
  • Visual perception

Alzheimer’s disease has its own set of symptoms that help medical professionals detect and diagnose it, in addition to the gradual memory loss of dementia. People with Alzheimer’s may not show all of these symptoms, but they tend to worsen over time:

  • Behavioral changes, like becoming aggressive or feeling suspicious of the people around you
  • Confusion and becoming disoriented in familiar places
  • Hallucinations and delusions
  • Anxiety
  • Difficulty moving around independently or performing daily grooming and self-care
  • Increased difficulty with speech, language, and communication

It’s estimated that between 60–70% of people with dementia have Alzheimer’s disease. This progressive condition is most common in adults over 65 years old, with symptoms becoming more pronounced as the disease develops. There is currently no cure, but specific therapies, such as memory care support, can help treat the symptoms.

Beyond Alzheimer’s: Other Common Types of Dementia

Besides Alzheimer’s, other types of dementia can impact people’s lives and cause a range of diverse symptoms.

Vascular Dementia

This type of dementia is the second-most common, following Alzheimer’s. It occurs when there is a problem with blood flow to the brain, which can be caused by small blockages. One blockage may not cause any symptoms, but as the blockages build up and blood flow constricts, symptoms of this kind of dementia may start to become more apparent.

The effects of the blockages depend on their size and where in the brain they occur. Some people find that their memory is affected, but they don’t have trouble performing daily activities. Others have increased difficulty with making decisions and thinking clearly.

Lewy Body Dementia (LBD)

LBD is caused by the buildup of clumps of cells in the brain called Lewy bodies. These clumps damage the parts of the brain that are in charge of thinking, movement, behavior, and even sleep. There are two types of LBD, and each one has its own symptoms.

  • Dementia with Lewy bodies: Cognitive issues begin first, followed by difficulty moving
  • Parkinson’s disease dementia: Movement issues start first, followed by cognitive decline

Difficulty with movement, like stiff muscles, shaking, and tremors, along with nervous system issues, sets LBD apart from the other types of dementia.

Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)

Another umbrella term, FTD, is used to describe a group of diseases that affect the frontal and temporal lobes in the brain. The lobes shrink over time and, depending on the affected area, cause different symptoms. In addition to problems with memory and speech, people with FTD often experience personality changes as the disease progresses. Some include developing compulsive behaviors, showing inappropriate behavior in public, and a lack of judgment and inhibition.

Pathways To Diagnosis and Medical Evaluation

Doctors use a variety of tests to assess whether a person has dementia and, if they do, which type. To start, doctors will ask about family history and perform a physical exam to see if a person’s cognitive decline could be caused by an underlying physical condition. They will then ask about changes in behavior, when the symptoms began, and how they are developing.

Physicians can perform any of these tests to help narrow down a cause and find a specific diagnosis:

  • Brain scans
  • Cognitive and neurological testing
  • Genetic and blood tests
  • Psychiatric evaluation
  • Lumbar puncture to collect cerebrospinal fluid

The results of these tests help physicians get a better idea of what’s going on. Paired with how the person is presenting symptoms, they can then make an accurate diagnosis.

To test for Alzheimer’s, doctors use the same methods, but pay closer attention to how the symptoms develop over time. They will ask people to come in every six or twelve months to monitor symptoms, as well as the severity and rate of progression.

How Supportive Environments Foster Quality of Life

People can still live comfortable, meaningful lives in the early stages of dementia. Doctors typically prescribe therapies for managing symptoms of the specific form of dementia and give useful advice on how to manage daily life.

As a friend or family member, you may start to notice that your loved one has some difficulties as the disease progresses, even if they don’t say it or recognize it themselves. Dementia makes daily life and tasks harder, especially as the condition progresses. People with late-stage dementia will eventually need full-time care to help them manage their symptoms and continue living as comfortably as possible.

Some families choose to keep their family members at home and become carers, either alone or with the help of a certified nurse or care worker. For others, opting for a CARF-accredited senior living community is a better solution. When the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities recognizes the community, family members can rest assured that their loved ones are in good hands.

These communities are specially designed to care for and aid people with dementia and Alzheimer’s. The environment is safe and structured, while the staff is trained to specifically meet the needs of the people living with dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Finding the right community can make a real difference in the life of a person with dementia, not just because of the care they receive. Part of the equation is the social connections they make with the other residents in the community.

Choosing a Path Forward with Senior Resource Group

Being part of a community boosts cognitive health through social interaction and stimulation. It can help slow cognitive decline and encourage other habits that are a part of healthy aging, like staying active and eating well. Senior Resource Group uses healthy aging as the basis of our philosophy in our senior communities. You can learn more about SRG’s approach to healthy aging and living well on our senior living blog.

Reach out to SRG today to learn more about our luxury senior living communities and memory care programs, and how we can help you find the right place for your loved one.