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What's The Difference Between Alzheimer's And Demetia?

A myALZteam Member asked a question 💭
Saint Paul, MN
October 24, 2023
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Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease Read Article...
A myALZteam Member

Here's what I've learned (from a lot of reading, including academic articles):
● Essentially, EVERY case of Alzheimer’s is Dementia –
● But NOT every case of Dementia is Alzheimer’s.

60 to 80% of all Dementia cases are Alzheimer's.
Alzheimer's is a specific brain disease that CAUSES Dementia to occur, by causing progressive cell damage (neurodegeneration). Generally, people start having symptoms 3 years before a diagnosis is sought.

The other types of Dementia include:
● Vascular Dementia (causes about 15% of cases)
● Lewy Body Dementia
● Frontotemporal Dementia
● Mixed Dementia
● Limbic-Predominant Age-Related TDP-43 Encephalopathy (known as "LATE")

October 24, 2023 (edited)
A myALZteam Member

Thank you, Helen.
You don’t have to go to Boston for the study, and I didn't know about a yearly visit there. There are sites in various parts of the country that are administering the study.. The treatment is done in your own home, the equipment is brought to you. It’s an audio treatment with headphones. You may have heard of treatments for other diseases with visual stimulation via goggles. The idea with this study is audio stimulation with headphones that may affect a part of the brain that is involved with Alz. My husband and I watched a webcast about it put on by Brite Fucus Foundation. Britefocus.org

February 22 (edited)
A myALZteam Member

@A myALZteam Member: Thank you. I have a son with Vascular Dementia and a husband with Alzheimer's and what your Neurologist says is true: it really doesn't matter much in terms of treatment and support. There really is little that can be done for any of these horrible, progressive dementias.
But the cause is certainly different:
● Our loved ones with Alzheimer's have a disease first, and it CAUSES the dementia to occur. If they didn't have the Alzheimer's Disease, they most likely wouldn't have any form of Dementia.
● In my son's case, if he hadn't sustained a Traumatic Brain Injury (a severe physical injury) he wouldn't have Vascular Dementia (certainly not at this age; and it's highly unlikely that he ever would have gotten this.)
PS: Love France and my heritage is French.

October 26, 2023 (edited)
A myALZteam Member

Excellent wording - easy to understand - thanks!!

October 24, 2023
A myALZteam Member

@A myALZteam Member Perfect answer. I was going to write most of this myself, but you beat me to it. Incidentally, here in sunny South of France our neurologist is telling me that it won't matter much (i.e. nothing) in terms of treatment and support whether it be Alzheimer's or Lewy Bodies. @A myALZteam Member like you I also read academic articles and find the progress in the last 30 years fascinating. I am a retired PhD scientist and very eager to exchange ideas with anyone. I'll try to "add you my team" if I can work out how to do that (very unused to social media).

October 26, 2023

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