“What’s the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s?” It’s a common question, and doctors are some of the best at confusing us. Physicians seem to prefer the word “dementia,” possibly because Alzheimer’s has become such a loaded word. “Dementia” somehow sounds less frightening to many people, and now even the experts have started using the words interchangeably.

They aren’t interchangeable. Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia are two very different things.

Dementia is a symptom. Pain is a symptom, and many different injuries and illnesses can cause pain. When you go to the doctor because you hurt, you won’t be satisfied if the doctor diagnoses “pain” and sends you home. You want to know what is causing the pain, and how to treat it.

“Dementia” simply means the symptom of a deterioration of intellectual abilities resulting from an unspecified disease or disorder of the brain.

Alzheimer’s Disease is one disease/disorder that causes dementia. Many other illnesses or “syndromes” can also cause dementia. Parkinson’s Disease can cause dementia. A stroke can cause dementia. Even dehydration can cause dementia.

Many of the things that can cause dementia are treatable, even potentially curable.

If you have taken your elder to the doctor and received a diagnosis of “dementia” you haven’t received a diagnosis at all. Unless you know what is causing the dementia you can’t begin to treat it’s root cause.

If your physician has diagnosed “dementia” it’s time for a second opinion. You are probably dealing either with a physician who is not comfortable with the truth, or one who doesn’t know how (or doesn’t want to bother) to differentiate between all the possible causes of dementia. Either way, a skilled geriatrician or a neurologist who is comfortable with seniors would be a good place to start.

By: Molly Shomer

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It’s 5:00 p.m., and all of a sudden your calm, serene mother is now very agitated, angry, and maybe even combative. Nothing you do seems to help, and quite frankly, you’re nervous and maybe even frightened. It seems as if there is nothing you can do. Take heart; you’re not alone, and there is help.

What your loved one with Alzheimer’s is experiencing is called Sundowners. It is very common for those with Alzheimer’s disease to become increasingly agitated as daylight fades away into night. Why the agitation?

Let’s use you as an example. Say you have a child in school, and everyday, you pick her up from school at 3:30 p.m. You’ve been picking her up since kindergarten, and now she is in the eighth grade. So all in all, you’ve picked her up for the better part of nine years. How would you feel, if 3:30 arrived, and you knew you had something important to do, but you couldn’t remember what it was? What if you felt a strong urge to do something, and the later it got the more agitated you became? And that’s just after a nine-year habit.

Now, let’s think about your mom. For years and years, your mom took care of the house and your dad went to work. Come sundown, it was time to begin preparation for dinner. Taking care of husband and children was her job. It was who she was. Now, all these years later, she has Alzheimer’s disease, and with each passing day, more and more of her memory is wiped away. Now sundown comes, and she knows she should be doing something, but what is it? That’s why it’s called Sundowners Syndrome. But what can you do about it? How can you help?

There are actually several things you can do. And things you can try. Here is a list of some of some of the things that have been successful for others.

1. Before darkness approaches, make sure the house is well lit. The brightness inside, reduces the feeling of time passing.

2. Buy mini blinds that are a bright color. This also gives the illusion of daylight.

3. Think of what your loved one used to do at the time she begins to get anxious. Was it cook? Take her into the kitchen and give her something to do. Who knows? It might calm her down.

4. Calming, less exciting activities as the afternoon progresses.

Understanding what is happening to your loved one, is the beginning of the solution.

By: Barbara McNaughton

About the Author:

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need to know of any fines abuse charges or cases ongoing of neglect

i want to startle my class of 25 and say like ” did you know that about __ people in this room will have alzheimers disease in the future” but i dont know the number does anyone know the statistics of people who get alzheimers? like one in every 100

My grandmother has alzheimers and she has a weekly nurse that watches her…but this nurse does not work on weekends simply because its too expensive…so my family has to rotate whos going to watch her on the weekend…one weekend shes at my cousins house and one weekend shes at my house…but were wondering if all this consistent moving from house to house on the weekend is good for her because she is not in her environment…she is getting worse and we dont know if she should stay at her home on the weekends or not…please help, thanks.

The Alzheimers Walk Reston Virginia

My mother takes 12 different med’s. How do they react with her alzheimers

Well kiddos, it’s been a while, but I’m back at it again. My newest video is a an examination of Harry Reid. While I’m not a doctor, I think a solid case can made that he has been experiencing signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s. Who knows. All I can say, is anyone still voting for him should be examined even closer. Thanks for checking my channel BigTimeLibertyFun out!! Enjoy

My mother-in-law is about 56 years old. She has always been somewhat of a scatterbrain, but lately she seems to forget just about anything me or my husband tell her (i.e. our schedules for getting together, important events, etc.). I find myself constantly frustrated with her forgetfulness, and I’m starting to wonder if maybe this is the beginning of Alzheimers. Does anyone have any advice/comments on this behavior? Being an in-law, I feel I’m not in a place to suggest she seek a diagnosis from a Dr.

tau is intracellular (inside the neuron)

what about beta amyloid?