There is often a great deal of confusion among patients, family members, the media, and sometimes even healtch care providers as to what the difference between dementia and Alzheimer's actually is.
In the simplest terms, dementia is a symptom, and Alzheimer's is the cause of that symptom.
When a person is diagnosed with dementia, this means they have significant memory and cognitive problems that may interfere with daily living. Many people are relieved with a doctor's diagnosis of dementia, thinking that it is less worrisome than Alzheimer's.
Occasionally, some causes of dementia are reversible, such as thyroid conditions or vitamin deficiencies. However, most causes are degenerative diseases of the brain that cannot be reversed. The most common cause of dementia, in 70-80% of all cases, is Alzheimer's disease.
As a person ages, the chances of developing Alzheimer's increases, with roughly 50% of people aged 85 and over being diagnosed with the disease. It is important to be aware that even though Alzheimer's is very common in later years of life, neither it nor dementia are a normal part of aging.
Read more: What is the Difference Between Alzheimer's and Dementia?
At Memorable Pets, we are highly dedicated to raising funds for Alzheimer's awareness and research, which is why a portion of the proceeds from each Memorable Pet goes toward Alzheimer's care. You can learn more about our selection of pets and how you can help at our website: memorablepets.com