Alzheimers Disease

vs
Dementia
By
Emily Venezky

Why clarify?
Some people use Alzheimers and dementia
interchangeably, when they are not exactly the
same thing. While dementia is a brain disorder that
affects communication and performance of daily
activities, Alzheimers is a form of dementia that
specifically affects thought, memory, and language.

Dementia

Dementia is an umbrella term for symptoms

of impaired thinking and memory. It can be
from the cognitive decline of aging, but
other causes include Huntingtons Disease,
Parkinsons Disease, etc.

Alzheimers Disease
Alzheimers is a common cause of dementia,
causing up 50 to 70% of dementia cases. Symptoms
include impaired thought, impaired speech, and
confusion. Unlike dementia, which can be reversible
or temporary, Alzheimers is degenerative and has
no cure at the moment.

In Conclusion
Alzheimers is a form of dementia, but dementia is
just a diagnosis for a set of symptoms, while
Alzheimers has a determined cause. By
remembering their differences we can spread public
awareness, hopefully leading to better care and
someday a cure.