Dementia is a syndrome. It is a concept we use to refer to a set of signs and symptoms caused by an alteration in brain physiology.
The symptoms are always progressive and irreversible. In its most advanced stage, it leads to loss of autonomy and the consequent dependence on others. Some of the most common symptoms are:
- Not remembering recent events.
- Difficulty following instructions.
- Trouble following conversations.
- Getting disoriented in familiar places.
- Isolation and loss of interests.
- Poor emotional control.
- Etc.
In contrast, when we refer to Alzheimer’s, we are talking about a neurodegenerative disease that affects the nervous system. It is the leading cause of dementia worldwide, but not the only one. The most common types include:
- Alzheimer’s disease, the most frequent diagnosis in older adults. It is associated with abnormal accumulations of proteins in the brain, known as amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, along with the loss of connections between nerve cells.
- Frontotemporal dementia, which is rare and tends to occur in people under 60. It is named for the brain areas affected. Changes in the frontal lobe lead to behavioral symptoms, while changes in the temporal lobe cause language and emotional problems. These changes involve abnormal amounts or formations of tau and TDP-43 proteins, as well as the loss of nerve cells.
- Dementia with Lewy bodies, whose symptoms include problems with thinking, movement, behavior, and mood. People with this type of dementia have abnormal deposits of a protein called alpha-synuclein in the brain, known as Lewy bodies.
- Vascular dementia, a diagnosis given when there are vascular changes in the brain, such as a stroke or small-vessel disease that affects blood flow. People with vascular dementia may also show changes in the brain’s white matter, the “wiring” that transmits messages between brain regions.
- Mixed dementia, which refers to a diagnosis where dementia is believed to result from a combination of brain changes. For example, there may be evidence of alterations typically linked to Alzheimer’s disease along with vascular dementia. Researchers continue to explore how and why multiple brain changes can occur together, to better understand these disorders and develop personalized prevention and treatment strategies.
- Chronic alcoholism, which mainly refers to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, a serious brain injury caused by a deficiency of vitamin B1 (thiamine) due to prolonged excessive alcohol consumption. This syndrome is characterized by memory loss, confusion, coordination problems, and difficulties with executive function. Beyond this syndrome, the direct damage of alcohol to the brain can also lead to other forms of cognitive impairment.
- Huntington’s disease, in which dementia refers to the cognitive decline—affecting memory, thinking, and judgment—that occurs as part of this hereditary, neurodegenerative genetic disorder. The disease primarily damages certain brain nerve cells over time, resulting in involuntary movements, behavioral disorders, and progressive cognitive impairment.
Alzheimer’s always eventually causes dementia. In the early stages of the disease, there may be no obvious symptoms, so we cannot yet speak of dementia. When these subtle symptoms progress and interfere with daily life, that is when we can speak of dementia caused by Alzheimer’s.
Source: alzheimers.gov
Manuals and/or guides for caregivers of people with dementia:
https://www.alzheimers.gov/es/como-vivir-demencia/consejos-cuidadores
