Many people use the terms “Dementia” and “Alzheimer’s Disease” interchangeably without realizing that there is actually a difference between the two. Dementia is a general term used to describe a change in memory and thinking. A change in thinking can include changes in language abilities, spatial abilities, reasoning, judgment, etc. Dementia is acquired, meaning that it is not something we are born with. There has to be a change in a person’s normal baseline memory and thinking to the extent that the person can no longer function normally. Dementia can be caused by a variety of different diagnoses such as frontotemporal dementia, Parkinson’s disease, Lewy body disease, vascular dementia, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, Alzheimer’s disease and others. Alzheimer’s disease is only one form of dementia among the many listed. It is also the most common cause of dementia. A presentation given by Emory University’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center highlights these differences and can be viewed at http://www.alzheimersweekly.com/2013/07/alzheimers-versus-dementia.html?m=1.
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