Quote:
Originally Posted by Villages PL
Furthermore, it's not uncommon for people to have both at the same time.
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True.......however....
The Mayo Clinic site claims that there is indeed a difference..........
It is only after death occurs , once an autopsy is performed, that Alzheimers can be definitely diagnosed..........and just how many of us, as caregivers, would want to subject their loved one to an autopsy........just to know?
Basically, dementia refers to a set of
symptoms.
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"Alzheimer's disease and dementia are different"
"There is often confusion and misunderstanding with the terms Alzheimer's disease and dementia, but there is a distinct difference."
"The term dementia refers to a set of symptoms, not the disease itself. "
"These symptoms might include language difficulty, loss of recent memory or poor judgment."
"In other words, when an individual is said to have dementia they are exhibiting certain symptoms. "
"With a thorough screening including blood tests (to rule out other causes of dementia such as vitamin deficiency), a mental status evaluation, neuropsychological testing, and sometimes a brain scan, doctors can accurately diagnose the cause of the dementia symptoms in 90 percent of the cases."
"(It is true however, that Alzheimer's can be diagnosed with complete accuracy only after death, using a microscopic examination of brain tissue, which checks for plaques and tangles)."
"Although Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60-70 percent of cases of dementia, other disorders that cause dementia include: Vascular dementia, Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy Bodies and Frontotemporal dementia."
"In the early stages of a disease, there can be some clear differences between the diseases. "
"For example, in dementia with Lewy Bodies (the second most common cause of dementia) early symptoms of the disease may
not be so much forgetfulness, but lowered attention span, recurrent visual hallucinations, and a fluctuation between periods of lucidity (or clear thinking) followed by periods of confusion. However, as the specific disease advances, more parts of the brain become affected, and the differences from one cause of dementia to another are subtle."
HOARDING & RUMMAGING
The Social Services Team at the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) frequently receives questions from caregivers regarding rummaging or hoarding behavior by loved ones. These behaviors are common among individuals with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia. We would like to share some tips for caregivers whose loved ones are hoarding or rummaging.
Individuals with dementia sometimes put items down and forget where they put them. They may also save or hoard items including food or money because they feel a need to "hold on" to something or to "complete" something. If this is the case in your household, you can choose to ignore the behavior if it is not particularly troublesome or unsafe. Though, collections of food may potentially become health hazards.
Alternatively, you can clean out the person's collection. If you do, we suggest that you leave a few items behind (again, as long as they do not pose a danger); they may feel less obligated to add to a tangible collection than to start a new collection.
Some individuals with dementia rummage through drawers, closets or refrigerators. This behavior can be vexing for the person who will reorder these storage areas - you. It may help to provide a box or private space for individuals with dementia so they can rummage freely without disturbing other items in the home. This space should contain items that are safe and will interest the person.
Rummaging or hoarding behaviors may endanger an individual. It is important to put away any items that are valuable or hazardous. Caregivers should try to place items out of their loved one's reach or in secure locations.