Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are terms that are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different things.

Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a set of symptoms that negatively affect cognitive functions, such as memory, thinking, and social abilities, to an extent that it interferes with daily functioning. Dementia, (usually called Major Neurocognitive Disorder in clinical settings), is not a specific disease; it’s a general term that covers a wide range of specific medical conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. It is a specific neurological condition characterised by the death of brain cells, leading to memory loss and cognitive decline. Alzheimer’s disease is progressive, meaning that it gets worse over time, and it is incurable at present.

The key differences are:

1. Definition: Dementia/Major Neurocognitive Disorder is a syndrome – a group of symptoms – that affects mental cognitive tasks such as memory and reasoning. Alzheimer’s is a degenerative brain disease that leads to dementia/Major Neurocognitive Disorder.
2. Cause: Dementia/Major Neurocognitive Disorder is caused by different diseases and conditions, Alzheimer’s being the most common. Alzheimer’s is caused by the abnormal build-up of proteins in and around brain cells.
3. Symptoms: While the symptoms of dementia/Major Neurocognitive Disorder can vary greatly, Alzheimer’s typically begins with a noticeable difficulty in remembering newly learned information, as this disease initially affects the part of the brain associated with learning.
4. Progression: The progression of Alzheimer’s is relatively well understood, with initial memory loss followed by more widespread brain impairment. The progression of dementia, however, depends on its cause.

In summary, Alzheimer’s is a specific type of dementia/Major Neurocognitive Disorder. While all Alzheimer’s is dementia/Major Neurocognitive Disorder, not all dementia/Major Neurocognitive Disorder is Alzheimer’s.