World Alzheimer's Day 2020 is an international campaign that is observed on September 21 every year to raise awareness about Alzheimer's. Know the key differences between Alzheimer's and Dementia.
World Alzheimer's Day 2020 is an international campaign that is observed on September 21 every year to raise awareness about Alzheimer's and highlight issues faced by people affected by dementia.
This year, the theme of World Alzheimer's Day is dementia. The theme highlights the importance of talking about dementia and raising awareness of how it impacts the daily lives of people affected by the condition and challenge the stigma that surrounds it.
What is Alzheimer's disease?
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. There are no available treatments that stop or reverse the progression of the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death. There are currently no specific markers that can confirm with a 100% certainty AD diagnosis.
It is a progressive disease beginning with mild memory loss possibly leading to loss of the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to the environment.
AD involves parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language and can seriously affect a person's ability to carry out daily activities.
Brain cells in the hippocampus, a part of the brain associated with learning, are often the first to be damaged by Alzheimer's. This is why memory loss, especially difficulty remembering recently learned information, is often the first symptom of the disease.
Although scientists are learning more every day, right now, they still do not know what causes Alzheimer's disease.
What is Dementia?
Dementia is not a specific disease but is rather a general term for the impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interferes with doing everyday activities.
Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia. Though dementia mostly affects older adults, it is not a part of normal aging.
Other types of dementias include vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, and a group of diseases that contribute to frontotemporal dementia
In India, more than 4 million people have some form of dementia. Worldwide, at least 44 million people are living with dementia, making the disease a global health crisis.
Difference between Alzheimer's and Dementia
Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia.
Alzheimer’s is a specific disease. Dementia is not.
Though the greatest known risk factor for Alzheimer's is increasing age, the disease is not a normal part of aging.
Dementia is not a normal part of aging. It is caused by damage to brain cells that affects their ability to communicate, which can affect thinking, behavior and feelings.
Another major difference between the two is that Alzheimer’s is not a reversible disease. It is degenerative and incurable at this time. Some forms of dementia, such as a drug interaction or a vitamin deficiency, are actually reversible or temporary.
How to check if you have Alzheimer's?
There is no simple way to detect Alzheimer’s. Diagnosis requires a complete medical exam. Blood tests, mental status tests and brain imaging may be used to determine the cause of symptoms.
While doctors can usually determine if someone has dementia, it may be more difficult to distinguish what type of dementia. Misdiagnosis is more common with younger-onset Alzheimer's.
Treatment for Alzheimer's
There is currently no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease.
Treatment addresses several different areas:
- Helping people maintain mental function
- Managing behavioral symptoms
- Slowing or delaying the symptoms of the disease
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