What is the difference between Alzheimer's and dementia?

Dementia vs Alzheimer’s: How do they relate to each other? 

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, understanding both conditions could ease some of your worries and allow you to plan for the next steps.

To further highlight the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia: dementia is a term that describes several progressive neurological disorders. It can be thought of not as a disease in itself, but as a collection of symptoms impacting a person’s memory, reasoning skills, and ability to perform daily tasks.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most commonly diagnosed type of dementia, and makes up an estimated 60-70% of dementia cases. Over time, this condition will go on to cause the same dementia symptoms mentioned above.

Is Alzheimer’s worse than dementia?

Alzheimer’s is a specific type of dementia, so you may be wondering whether this is a more severe variant than other dementia types. Some other forms of dementia are known to progress faster and will come with their own challenges, but ultimately the severity of any type of dementia depends on factors such as:

• The person’s age
• Any additional health conditions they are managing
• How quickly the condition progresses
• Severity of certain symptoms 
• The level of support the person has around them

How do dementia and Alzheimer’s disease differ when it comes to risk factors and life expectancy?

Alzheimer’s and dementia share some risk factors. For dementia, these usually include:

• Age (it is most common in those over 65 years old)
• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Excessive alcohol consumption 
• Being overweight 

For Alzheimer’s, the biggest risk factor is also age, but it is more closely connected to genetics from family history – over 100 risk genes are suspected to produce a greater susceptibility for late-onset Alzheimer’s.

One 2021 study suggested non-Alzheimer’s types of dementia were associated with a shorter life expectancy than Alzheimer’s disease. The life expectancy of a person with dementia depends on the type and severity, but Alzheimer’s usually develops more slowly and has an average life expectancy of around 8-10 years after diagnosis, depending on age.

How do dementia and Alzheimer’s disease differ when it comes to diagnosis?

Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease follow a similar path to diagnosis, because dementia is a general diagnosis of a collection of symptoms (memory loss, etc.), whereas Alzheimer’s is diagnosed as a specific condition. Essentially, a dementia diagnosis tries to find out whether or not cognitive decline is present, whilst an Alzheimer’s diagnosis tries to determine whether this–or another type of dementia–is the underlying cause.

Diagnosing all types of dementia may involve steps such as:

• An assessment to discuss medical history and current symptoms 
• Assessments to determine present level of cognition
• Arranging relevant blood tests to rule out other conditions
• Brain imaging such as MRI or CT scans to find any deterioration
• Additional scans (if required) such as a SPECT scan or a PET scan

How do dementia and Alzheimer’s disease differ when it comes to treatment?

There is no cure for any type of dementia condition, so treatments focus on symptom relief, minimising the progression, and maintaining quality of life. Some treatment options that may be offered include:

• Medications to alleviate symptoms like sleep issues or depression – these can usually be offered to those with Alzheimer’s disease
• Therapy with a professional who can provide emotional support after a dementia diagnosis
• Lifestyle modifications can give people with dementia more energy to maintain their quality of life – research suggests around 45% of dementia cases could be avoided by addressing lifestyle factors
• Environmental modifications can help those with any type of dementia to live more confidently at home as they lose certain abilities and require more caregiver help

How can home care support those with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease?

When it comes to care and support, there is little difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia, although working with home care can help families to better understand the condition, feel more prepared, and navigate the next steps with ease.

Some studies have found being in an unfamiliar setting with strangers can foster feelings of stress and confusion, so home care could make a positive difference for dementia patients. At Home Instead, we get to know your family’s needs, and select Care Professionals based on their personality and experience with the type of dementia you are managing. Our dementia carer training programme is City & Guilds Assured, so you can feel confident your loved one is in safe hands. Reach out for a no-pressure chat to see how we can help.