How can you tell if your loved one has alzheimers or dementia and what is the difference?
The diagnosis of Alzheimer's is based on symptoms that match the criteria. It is progressive and to date, not curable. Early symptoms include mood changes, short-term memory loss, disruption of sleep patterns among other things. As it advances, even long established habits can be forgotten, people may not be recognized, agitation and hallucinations are not uncommon. This is when patients may start wandering, and lose their way home. Eventually, routine body functions, such as using the bathroom and even swallowing are forgotten.
Alzheimer's is a form of dementia. However, dementia may be caused by a variety of reasons, such as alcoholism, high fever, stroke, kidney failure, encephalitis, etc. Many forms of dementia are transient rather than permanent as is Alzheimer's.
Things get complicated with elderly patients, because drug reactions, dehydration, sleep disturbance and illness, among other things can cause symptoms of dementia. These symptoms can coexist with Alzheimer's, and often do because Alzheimer's victims frequently neglect their basic nutritional needs, forget their medication, have sleep problems and so on. Hence the existence of Alzheimer's in a patient can precipitate and exacerbate dementia.
In addition to the physical variables, emotional factors also have a very significant effect on the disease process. Anxiety and or depression can be devastating, completely immobilizing a person who is still in the early stages of the disease. Treatment must include assessing physical, mental emotional and spiritual aspects. Often, finances are also a problem.
I hope this helps a little bit.