Although we tend to confuse them, the senile dementia and Alzheimer's are two different concepts, although as they are degenerative mental illnesses, they are closely related.
In the following Psychology-Online article, we will explain what is the difference between dementia and alzheimer. In addition, we will show you the main characteristics of these two degenerative diseases and how they are linked together.
Index
- Differences between senile dementia and Alzheimer's
- What is senile dementia
- What is Alzheimer's
Differences between senile dementia and Alzheimer's.
The main difference between Alzheimer's and senile dementia is that, in the case of Alzheimer's, the degeneration can cause death in most cases, while dementia is not considered a direct cause of death. death.
Although we tend to use both terms interchangeably, their meanings are actually different. The dementia is the common pathology involving cognitive loss or impairment, while
Similarities between senile dementia and Alzheimer's
Both senile dementia and Alzheimer's are within the so-called neurological diseases. In addition to affecting the degeneration of cognitive abilities, both are characterized by being irreversible, which implies that those functions lost by the patient cannot be regenerated.
Both pathologies share different phases of the disease. In the mild phase of dementia and Alzheimer's in particular, there is usually hardly any alteration, while in the advanced phase other problems or peculiarities usually add up depending on each patient. In any case, the absence of a healthy lifestyle and a low pre-morbid educational level can increase the ability to suffer from any of these diseases.
Paying attention to the signs that warn of a possible cognitive deterioration is essential to be able to determine the origin and obtain an adequate diagnosis and medical treatment in each case.
What is senile dementia.
Senile dementia is the set of symptoms and signs caused by a brain disorder that causes loss or decline in cognitive abilities such as the deterioration of memory and other reasoning abilities such as language, perception or judgment of the person who suffers from it.
The senile dementia represents a degenerative disease, associated with age and aging, which can prevent the patient from carry out your daily activities independently, since there is a lack of communication of the cells nervous. The loss of autonomy in advanced stages it can turn people who suffer from it into dependents.
Symptoms of senile dementia
The symptoms manifested by a patient with senile dementia are:
- memory impairment
- Changes in thinking ability.
- Little judgment or reasoning ability.
- Changes in language and communication skills.
- Decreased concentration and attention.
What is Alzheimer's.
Alzheimer's is a brain disease caused by certain pathological changes that alter the functioning of neurons. It is a pathology that can appear at an early age and not present symptoms for years, since the brain has the ability to compensate for these alterations.
However, as the symptoms of the disease worsen, there comes a time when can hide more and signs of cognitive impairment begin to appear, such as problems with memory. In fact, Alzheimer's is one of the main types of dementia.
Alzheimer's symptoms
People with Alzheimer's show the following symptoms:
- Disorientation in space.
- Recurring memory loss.
- Attention problems.
- Personality changes and moods.
- Communication inability.
- Decrease in energy.
- Impairment of motor functions.
This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to What is the difference between dementia and Alzheimer's?, we recommend that you enter our category of Clinical psychology.
