Dementia vs. Alzheimer’s Disease: What is the Difference?
Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s is a specific disease. Learning about the two terms and the difference between them is important and can empower individuals living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia, their families and their caregivers with necessary knowledge.
Dementia
A group of symptoms associated with a decline in memory, reasoning or other thinking skills
- Most commonly seen in people aged 65 and older
- Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of cases
- Mixed dementia is a condition in which brain changes of more than one type of dementia occur simultaneously
Alzheimer’s Overview
A degenerative brain disease that is caused by complex brain changes following cell damage
- The most common early symptom of Alzheimer’s is trouble remembering new information because the disease typically impacts the part of the brain associated with learning first
- As Alzheimer’s advances, symptoms get more severe and include disorientation, confusion and behavior changes
Help and support are available
The Alzheimer’s Association is the trusted resource for reliable information, education, referral and support to millions of people affected by the disease
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