Dementia&

Alzheimer's

Dementia. Alzheimer's.What's the difference?

Dementia

Word for a group of Symptoms caused by disorders that affect the brain.

Not a specific disease

Affects the ability to remember how to execute certain daily tasks.

Alzheimer’s

Progressive, degenerative disorder that attacks the brain’s nerve cells and neurons.

Results in loss of memory, thinking and languages skills.

Often results in behavioral changes

What is Dementia?

Dementia is a general term.

Describes a group of symptoms.

Alzheimer’s is a classification of Dementia.

Each type is characterized by different pathologic, or structural, changes in the brain

Loss of

• Memory

• Judgment

• Language

• Complex motor skills

• Intellectual function

What is Alzheimer’s?

Alzheimer’s Disease is a degenerative disorder.

The neurons which produce acetylcholine, the brain chemical that acts as a neurotransmitter, breaks connections with other nerve cells and dies.

Alzheimer’s Disease is not a normal part of aging.

Most common cause of dementia.

* Found in 60% of dementia patients over the age of 65

The First Case of Alzheimer’s.

Named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer.

Origins of the disease date all the way back to 1906.

Dr. Alzheimer, a German physician, presented a case before a medical meeting of a 51-year-old woman suffering from a rare brain disorder.

A brain autopsy identified the plaques and tangles characterized today with Alzheimer’s disease.

Warning Signs of Dementia.

What to watch out for

• Relying on memory helpers

• Trouble finding words

• Struggling to complete familiar actions

• Confusion about time, place or people

• Misplacing familiar objects

• Onset of new depression or irritability

• Making bad decisions

• Personality changes

• Loss of interest in important responsibilities

• Seeing or hearing things

• Expressing false beliefs

Warning Sings of Alzheimer’s.

Typical warning sings

• Memory loss of recent events, names, and placement of objects.

• Confusion about time and place.

• Difficulty completing familiar actions or tasks.

• Failure to follow directions or conversations.

• Loss of words

• Failure to complete sentences

• Poor judgment

• Changes in mood or personality, increased suspicion, and withdrawal.

• Disinterested in usual activities.

• Difficulty with complex mental assignments, or tasks involving numbers

Diagnosis of Dementia.

Intellectual Areas

• Amnesia

• Aphasia

Dementia is diagnosed accurately 90% of the time.

Dozens of other causes of memory loss.

Accurate diagnosis is critical for treatment.

Clinically diagnosed dementia requires cognitive loss in or more intellectual areas.

Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s.

Tools used for Diagnosis

• Complete medical history

• Lab tests

• Physical exam

• Brain scans

• Neuro-psychological tests that gauge;1. Memory

2. Attention

3. Language skills

4. Problem-solving abilities

Alzheimer’s also diagnosed accurately 90% of the time.

Can only be confirmed by Autopsy.

Accurate diagnosis is critical in deciphering between Alzheimer’s and other non permanent causes of memory lose.

The sooner the diagnosis, the easier it is to manage symptoms and plan for the future.

Symptoms of Dementia and Alzheimer’s.Cognitive

Amnesia

Aphasia

Apraxia

Agnosia

Psychiatric

Personality changes

Depression

Hallucinations

Delusions

Alzheimer’s Treatment.There is no know cure for Alzheimer’s Disease.

The FDA has approved several medications for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s

These medications can provide some relief of symptoms and may slow the decline of the diseases effects.

Researchers support behavioral management intervention.

Education and counseling is often given to caregivers of older adults pertaining to Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

Alzheimer’s Statistics.

As many as 5.1 million Americans may have Alzheimer’s disease.

The number of cases is rising in line with the aging population.

The prevalence of Alzheimer's disease double every five years beyond age 65.

About half a million Americans younger than age 65 have some form of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.

Other Forms of Dementia.

Creuzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)

Dementia with Lewy Bodies

Frontotemporal Dementia

Huntington’s Disease

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

Parkinson’s Dementia

Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome

Dementia&

Alzheimer's