Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are related but not exactly the same. Dementia is a general term that refers to a decline in cognitive ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for about 60-70% of all dementia cases.
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. It is characterized by the accumulation of abnormal proteins in the brain, such as beta-amyloid plaques and tau tangles, which disrupt normal brain function and lead to the death of brain cells. Over time, these changes can cause the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, including memory loss, confusion, difficulty with problem-solving, personality and behavior changes, and eventually the inability to carry out daily activities.
However, not all cases of dementia are caused by Alzheimer’s disease. There are other types of dementia, such as vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and Lewy body dementia, among others, which have different underlying causes and may present with different symptoms. It’s important to receive a proper diagnosis from a qualified healthcare professional to determine the specific cause of dementia in an individual case, as treatment and care may differ depending on the underlying cause.
