An introductory guide to understanding dementia, Alzheimer’s disease

While the terms dementia and Alzheimer's disease often are used interchangeably, they have two different meanings regarding diagnoses. Dementia refers to a wide range of symptoms that affect a person's ability to perform everyday activities independently. Alzheimer's disease is the most well-known and common form of dementia. It's a progressive condition that gets worse over time.

Signs and symptoms of dementia

Depending on the cause of dementia ― and there are many ― some of its symptoms are reversible. While dementia generally involves memory loss, this symptom alone doesn't mean that a person has dementia. Some treatable medical conditions can cause dementia-like symptoms.

Symptoms of dementia include:

• Changes in thinking skills
• Changes in behavior and language
• Decline in memory
• Decreased focus and attention
• Poor judgment and reasoning skills

Signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease

While dementia is a general term, Alzheimer's disease is a specific brain disease. It's marked by symptoms of dementia that gradually get worse over time. Alzheimer's disease first affects the part of the brain associated with learning, so early symptoms often include changes in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. As the disease progresses, symptoms become more severe, including confusion, behavior changes and other challenges.

Early signs of Alzheimer's disease include:

• Changes in mood, such as depression or other behavior and personality changes
• Confusion with location or passage of time
• Difficulty concentrating, planning or problem-solving
• Having visual or space difficulties, such as not understanding distance in driving, getting lost or misplacing items
• Language problems, such as word-finding problems or reduced vocabulary in speech or writing
• Memory impairment, such as difficulty remembering events
• Problems finishing daily tasks at home or at work, such as writing or using eating utensils
• Using poor judgment in decisions
• Withdrawing from work events or social engagements

Diagnosing dementia and Alzheimer's disease

Diagnosing dementia and identifying the type of dementia can be challenging. Your healthcare team will evaluate the pattern of the loss of skills and function, and determine what abilities the person has.

Diagnosing Alzheimer's disease involves the self-reporting of symptoms, as well as administering tests to assess memory and thinking skills. While this can be difficult, there are multiple diagnostic tools that can help detect dementia and determine with relatively high accuracy whether Alzheimer's disease or another condition is the cause.

Treating dementia and Alzheimer's disease

Although there’s no cure for most types of dementia or Alzheimer's disease, managing symptoms is possible. Medications can help with memory symptoms and other cognitive changes.

Dementia and Alzheimer's disease can be unpredictable and move progressively, so those with the diagnosis should be prepared as the condition changes over time.

Some ways to enhance the well-being of someone with dementia or Alzheimer's disease include:

• Making sure they are eating well
• Encouraging regular exercise
• Having the person's hearing checked
• Keeping them involved with social activities

Many communities have in-person or online support groups for caregivers and people with mild to mid-stage memory disorders. For more information, contact your healthcare team or county human services department.

Check out these resources for more information on brain health and caregiving:

• Eating to maximize memory function
• Memory lapses: Normal or something more?
• Tips to keep your brain healthy
• What caregivers need to know about dementia-related pain
• When to seek help for memory loss

Natalie Makepeace is a clinical social worker in La Crosse, Wisconsin.