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