Changes in considering and memory as we age can occur for a wide range of reasons. These changes are there is not all the time a cause for concern. However, once they begin to interfere along with your day by day life, it could indicate the first signs of dementia.
Another term that will come up when talking about dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, or Alzheimer’s for brief.
So what’s the difference?
What is dementia?
Dementia is an umbrella term used to explain various syndromes that cause changes in memory, considering and/or behavior resulting from brain degeneration.
To meet with criteria in dementia, these changes have to be severe enough to interfere with usual activities and occur in not less than two different points of considering or memory.
For example, someone could have trouble remembering to pay bills and wander off in previously familiar areas.
It is less known that dementia may also occur kids. It is attributable to progressive brain damage related to over 100 rare genetic disorders. This may lead to similar cognitive changes that we see in adults.
So what is Alzheimer’s disease?
Alzheimer’s is the most typical form of dementia, accounting for approx about 60-80% cases.
It’s no wonder that many individuals use the terms dementia and Alzheimer’s disease interchangeably.
Changes in memory are the most typical sign of Alzheimer’s disease, and that is what society thinks most frequently is related to this. For example, an individual with Alzheimer’s disease could have trouble remembering recent events or keeping track of what day or month it is.
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We still do not know exactly what causes Alzheimer’s. However, we all know that it is related to the accumulation of two sorts of proteins in the brain, the so-called amyloid-β and tau.
Although all of us have some amount of amyloid-β, when excess amyloid-β accumulates in the brain, it clumps together, forming plaques in the intercellular spaces. These plaques cause damage (inflammation) to surrounding brain cells and result in disruptions Yes. Tau is a part of the structure of brain cells, but in Alzheimer’s disease, tau proteins change into “tangled.” This is toxic to cells, causing them to die. AND feedback This is thought to then occur, causing more amyloid-β and more abnormal tau to be produced, perpetuating the damage to brain cells.
Alzheimer’s disease may also occur with other types of dementia, e.g vascular dementia. This combination is the most typical example of a mixed dementia.
Vascular dementia
The second most typical form of dementia is vascular dementia. This is attributable to disruption of blood flow to the brain.
Because changes in blood flow can occur throughout the brain, the symptoms of vascular dementia could also be more varied than the memory changes typically seen in Alzheimer’s disease.
For example, vascular dementia may present with general confusion, slow considering, or difficulty organizing thoughts and actions.
Your risk of vascular dementia is higher if you will have heart disease or hypertension.
Frontotemporal dementia
Some people may not realize that dementia may also affect behavior and/or language. We see this in various types of frontotemporal dementia.
Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia is the second most typical form (after Alzheimer’s disease) of the disease younger onset dementia (dementia in people under 65 years of age).
People living with this disorder could have difficulty interpreting and responding appropriately to social situations. For example, they could make unusually rude or offensive comments or invade other people’s personal space.
Semantic dementia it is also a form of frontotemporal dementia, manifested by difficulties in understanding the meaning of words and naming on a regular basis objects.
Dementia with Lewy bodies
Dementia with Lewy bodies results from dysregulation of one other form of protein called α-synuclein. We often see this in people affected by Parkinson’s disease.
Therefore, individuals with any such dementia could have movement disorders comparable to stooped posture, shuffling walking, and changes in the letter. Other symptoms include changes in alertness, visual and significant hallucinations sleep disruption.
Do I actually have dementia and in that case, what type?
If you or someone you care about is concerned, the very first thing to do is this check with your GP. They will probably ask you some questions on your medical history and any changes you will have noticed.
Sometimes, if you first check with your doctor, it is probably not clear whether you will have dementia. They may suggest monitoring changes or refer you to a specialist further tests.
There is no single test that may definitively show whether you will have dementia or what form of dementia it is. The diagnosis is made after many tests, including brain scans, memory and considering tests, and consideration of how these changes affect your day by day life.
It is usually a difficult time not knowing what is going on on, so it is vital to check with someone about how you feel or reach out to Support services.
Dementia is diverse
In addition to the different types of dementia, everyone experiences dementia in other ways. For example, the rate at which dementia progresses varies greatly from individual to individual. Some people will proceed to do that living well with dementia for some time, while others may fade more quickly.
It is still significant stigma surrounding dementia. So by learning more about the several types of dementia and understanding the differences in the progression of dementia, we will all help to create a more dementia friendly community.