| Dementia and Alzheimer's disease may | | | | destruction may be caused by a head |
| share common symptoms but there is a | | | | injury, a stroke, or a brain tumor. |
| marked difference between these two | | | | Some people have a family history of |
| problems of aging. Everyone as they | | | | dementia. Dementia may also change a |
| age may lose their keys and may have | | | | person's mood and personality. As the |
| some problems remembering facts and | | | | dementia progresses, mood swings and |
| figures. For many older Americans, this | | | | other disruptive behaviors may become |
| is a common sign of aging. Dementia is | | | | apparent. The person who has dementia |
| a serious brain disorder that covers a | | | | may not be aware of these problems. |
| wide spectrum of cognitive problems | | | | Some of the signs or symptoms of |
| while Alzheimer's disease has unique | | | | dementia may include: |
| physical and brain conditions that other | | | | - Problems with memory |
| dementia disorders do not share. | | | | - Problem with orientation |
| Dementia is a common problem in the | | | | - Having difficulty making plans |
| elderly population. It is estimated | | | | - Difficulty with dressing |
| that as many as four million Americans | | | | - Difficulty with common tasks, |
| live with some degree of dementia. The | | | | - Making a phone call, |
| symptoms of dementia can be described as | | | | - Using cooking utensil |
| a collection of symptoms that indicate | | | | - Difficulty performing simple math |
| that the thinking process is | | | | problems |
| deteriorating. | | | | - Difficulty with language |
| These symptoms affect the individual in | | | | Dementia-like symptoms can also develop |
| a variety of ways but they all the | | | | as a result of other lifestyle |
| symptoms of dementia have a devastating | | | | condition, such as alcohol or substance |
| affect on the quality of life. | | | | abuse, vitamin deficiency and certain |
| Individuals suffering from dementia lose | | | | infectious diseases. Although |
| some of their ability to carry out daily | | | | Alzheimer's Disease accounts for nearly |
| activities. One effect of the disease | | | | 60 percent of all dementia cases; all |
| is that a key brain chemical | | | | cases of dementia are not Alzheimer's. |
| acetylcholine is lost. The loss of | | | | Alzheimer's disease is a unique brain |
| this important chemical can contribute | | | | disorder that affects the parts of the |
| to some of the symptoms of both dementia | | | | brain that control thought, memory and |
| and Alzheimer's. | | | | language. Alzheimer's usually begins |
| Acetylcholine is produced in several | | | | after age 60. |
| locations in the brain including the | | | | It is important to classify the type of |
| basal forebrain. It thought that this | | | | dementia that the patient is |
| chemical promotes learning. | | | | experiencing. An appointment with a |
| Acetylcholine-producing cells in the | | | | health care specialist to confirm a |
| basal forebrain are damaged in the early | | | | specific diagnosis. Some forms of |
| stages of Alzheimer's disease, which are | | | | dementia can be successfully treated |
| believed to contribute to the loss of | | | | with drugs. Once the patient and the |
| memory which are an early symptom of the | | | | family understand what is causing the |
| disease. | | | | dementia-like symptom, a treatment plan |
| Dementia is also caused by the | | | | to address the root cause can be put in |
| destruction of brain cells. The | | | | place. |