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    Angela Lunde

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  • Alzheimer's blog

  • Sept. 27, 2007

    Alzheimer's disease and dementia are different

    By Angela Lunde

349 comments posted

My sincere appreciation to all of you who have posted a comment or two on this new blog, I am elated by the rapid interest! Your exchange of stories, ideas, and challenges, along with the compassionate support you are giving one another, is exactly what I hope this blog can provide. As one individual stated, "Your experiences will comfort me."

Know that I will weigh in from time to time on some of the issues that surface, but for this blog, the real experts will be all of you impacted in one way or another by Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia. Each of you can provide a depth of knowledge shaped by your own circumstances; when it comes to a devastating disease like AD, sometimes simply an exchange of experiences is what matters most. I will, however, comment on themes and general issues that emerge and provide links to resources that I think can be beneficial.

For this entry, let me just state that 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.

In concluding my entry today, I'd like to pose a question: You may have heard the saying, "When you've met one person with Alzheimer's, you've met one person with Alzheimer's disease." In other words, no two persons are similar in how the disease impacts them. This holds true for caregivers as well. If you have seen how Alzheimer's disease (or related dementia) impacts one caregiver, you have seen how it impacts one caregiver. If you are caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease or a similar dementia, how has it impacted you, more importantly, how do you cope?

Keep posting!

In Support,
Angela

349 comments posted

blog index

  • October 24, 2007 9:26 a.m.

    I work as a CNA in a nursing home and deal with residents with varying degrees of AD regularly. I have notied that often the AD residents who act out in violence usually do so out of fear. When performing cares I try to establish eye contact with the resident and speak in a quiet, reassuring voice, explaining my actions each step of the way. When nothing seems to work and the frustration level is high I step back and ask a co-worker to step in while I have a calming period. It is important to remember not to take attacks, verbal or physical, too personal. A resident who just hit me may hug me in two minutes. AD residents may also be very conversive and even though their conversations may not make sense I acknowledge their conversations by interjecting appropriate comments such as "really?", "Oh that sounds nice", and laugh when it seems appropriate.

    - Marie

  • October 24, 2007 1:48 a.m.

    I have any of you see a person with dementia that suddenly stops talking? If so, did you find something that helped? I would so appreciate any input!

    - Carole

  • October 19, 2007 9:36 a.m.

    I am caring for my Mother who has Alzheimers too. Although I have 3 other siblings, geographically I am left holding the baby! She is a lovely person and very easy to deal with. The hardest thing I find is the emotional end of things. She has changed from being a fun loving, very capable and competent person, to someone who cannot make the smallest decision for herself, her personal hygiene too is declining. She gets quite annoyed when I remind her to wash her hands after visiting the washroom etc. In some ways it is like having a big baby, and it is very taxing directing someone at all times. Definately being a caregiver is not an easy task particularly when you didn't look for the responsibility. However I have a great husband and daughter God Bless them. I have to say that if it was my in-laws, I don't think I would be as patient and kind.

    - Paula

  • October 19, 2007 5:01 a.m.

    Would some of you share about how long it is from the beginning of Alzheimer's to the end?

    - Bird

  • October 17, 2007 9:20 p.m.

    To Boppy, I'm glad my post to you was of some help. Sorry to hear about your neurologist. Perhaps you can take the test results to your family doctor, have him/her explain the findings. As far as a time frame, I can't answer that question; I only know what happened with my Mom. She had a 26 year history of TIA'S which lead to the damage in her brain. The last two years of her life, the symptoms mounted. Any change in her surroundings lead to complete confusion. She was put on Darvocet for pain from a fall, but the reaction was totally unreal. No strong medications. She couldn't go out socially, even to family member homes. I kept a log of my Mom's declining heath and might I suggest you do the same. Looking back on it now, you tend to forget some of the things that took place. Now is the time, to make sure all the legal papers are in order and a good support system. Again I hope this helps you. LCF

    - LCF

  • October 17, 2007 10:31 a.m.

    To Jen--Our NH wanted their own set of directives for their files and their lawyers. You might ask to update yours for them. Our mother had to sign in early stages for herself but my husband with power of atty signed for his dad in late stage. It may be time for a Hospice assessment..your doc will probably comply

    - Caro

  • October 17, 2007 10:19 a.m.

    For those caregivers, especially family and inlaws, the guilt gets tossed around and you end up sick with the depression and nervous stomach and unable to function. My doc put me on Librax (an old drug) for nervous stomach, Nexium for 5 days, and Lexapro (a switch from Zoloft). Miracles do happen..I feel almost great!!

    - Caro

  • October 17, 2007 12:51 a.m.

    My mom was 86 in March. I'm the oldest of 3 and have been taking care of her since 2003 alone. She was diagnosed with LBD (lewy body dementia complex). When anybody mentions dementia they immediately say oh that's the same as Alzheimers. (I read up on more comments today). But the general conclusions are all the same .there is no cure and little help anywhere. . so that's really depressing for the caretaker. Most of the symptoms mentioned for LBD correctly describe my dear Mom. She used to be quite active, bowling. .swimming. . tennis. .dancing..she was a premature twin weighing only 2lbs, she has done tons of rehab therapies in Europe and many natural remedies. However..none of this is helpful now. The real questions are . .are there memory pills that help? Is there gingko in liquid form that may help? She takes namenda sinement and 1 razydine. All this makes her more tired. I just wished we could find the right medications or herbs to stop the degeneration.Any ideas???

    - HP

  • October 16, 2007 9:52 p.m.

    My Mom is in the later stages of AD. She is in a good nursing home, thankfully. She always said not to let her live hooked up to machines, that helps us very little now. She is to the point where her day consists of eating, sleeping, barely conversing, needing help to move anywhere, and unable to do much of anything herself. She doesn't leave any more because she gets to agitated. The question is, has anyone given specific directives to the level they would like to be when they are possibly put on comfort care? I understand this directive, I just had brain surgery and was very specific with my family about how much they were allowed to do for me if things were to not work out. These things should be discussed. There are living wills, is there anything for people with dementia, so they can give directives and maintain some control of their own life?

    - Jen

  • October 16, 2007 6:40 p.m.

    I recommend that you who are working with people who have Alzheimer or dementia should read "Heavy Metal Toxins" by Dr. Casdorph and Dr. Walker. There are other doctors who have used different kinds of treatments for Alzheimer's patients and have had some success if they get it in the first and second stages. It is thought that Alzheimer is caused by having too much of a heavy metal in one;s body and that can be treated. Wish I knew this when my father in law was alive in the Alzheimer's unit at a nursing care facility.

    - Bridget

  • October 16, 2007 5:16 p.m.

    My husband Lewis is in to walk with Alzheimer's 9 years. He does not read, tell time, bathe himself, shave, comb his hair. So basically I do for him always. But you know I still love having him at home and I do know the day is coming soon when I will have to put him in a home. His sleep pattern at night is not good and I talk to him about that but of course he does not understand. He stated the other day that he had never been married. We celebrated our 50th in March. I showed him the picture of our wedding and he said I do not remember that, I wonder what ever happened to her. Sad, yes but I had to laugh because he was amazed he was ever married. Humor helps me get through the day. No medicine is helpful to us at this stage. Thanks for listening. Nancy

    - Nancy Spangler

  • October 15, 2007 6:13 p.m.

    It is so good to have a place to read about others' experiences with Alzheimer's. My 68 year old husband was diagnosed in May. I had suspected this because of his short term memory loss over the past two years, but was afraid to get the diagnosis. He has no verbal problems - can converse almost as well as ever. His main problem seems to be his eyesight. His opthamologist says there is nothing wrong with his eyes, but he can hardly read anymore; he skips letters and numbers, can't read certain fonts and has trouble deciphering words. Has anyone else encountered this problem with their AD person? The neurologist says that's part of the whole brain disease but I wonder if there is some help available. My husband is taking Aricept since June. Thanks for being there, everyone!

    - Bev

  • October 14, 2007 9:50 p.m.

    LCF, thank you for your post. I appreciate your answers and help. It is all so confusing to me. We have talked to the neurologist and they seem to want to talk in their own language. It is just hard for me to imagine my husband having all of this wrong with him as most of the time, he's fine. He just has difficulty concentrating on more than one thing at at a time. How fast does the disease progress? He has also had 5 heart attacks, failed by pass surgery, has high blood pressure, etc. and had to be life flighted last year. He knows he has been diagnosed with vascular dementia but I don't think he really understands what it is. Nor, do I. He was just diagnosed in July of this year. I think sometimes I am in denial also. He is 66 years old and his Mother had Alzheimer's also. She lived for 10 years. I thank you again for your help. Boppy

    - Boppy

  • October 13, 2007 8:09 a.m.

    Boppy, I am no health care pro, just a daughter who was a caregiver to my Mom. As far as your questions concerning vascular dementia, in my experience the neurologist we had answered most of my questions based on the tests he performed on my Mom. Based on a time frame the neurologist can give you, should help. The last year of her life was difficult but got worse the last couple of months. Some days were very confussing to her and me, some days she knew me and some she didn't. In her last year I had a real problem when I had to go to the store, as I always got a phone call from Mom, just excuses on her part but very real to her; I would hurry right back. There are no right or wrong answers, as what you can and will do. Some days she would eat and some she wouldn't, some days she would bath and some she wouldn't. All out of character for her but...that's the way this disease goes. Hope this helps. LCF

    - LCF

  • October 11, 2007 8:23 a.m.

    My husband has been diagnosed with vascular dementia and has had all of the tests. They tell us he is having mini-strokes although he doesn't know when he has them. My question is: Could someone just please tell me in simple words what to expect next and is it alright to leave him alone for a couple of hours when I go to church? I need to know how fast the disease progresses and will he eventually not know me? Soooo many questions. I can't begin to ask all of the questions I have on here. I appreciate any information. Thanks.

    - Boppy

  • October 9, 2007 7:57 p.m.

    We are suddenly raising my wife's 3yr old granddaughter in New Zealand. My wife is nearly 60, I am 70. We are both in reasonably good health, although I was told that my early dementia will worsen should we move to another country. This seems to have occurred because my thinking has slowed and many words have disappeared when I want to use them. I take a generic form of Ritalin, 5mg per day although my prescription allows up to 30 mgs. per day. I call it my "Speed Pill" and find that when I really want to be on top of things mentally, I will take 15 mgs. over the course of the day. What I need to know is if this is fair to the child considering our ages? Is it fair to my wife, who will then have two children to care for in the future? Does anyone know of a similar situation and what was the outcome?

    - N Kabak

  • October 7, 2007 4:05 p.m.

    I too was a caregiver to my Mom, who passed away May 2005. She had a history of TIA'S for twenty-six years. She was diagnosis with Vascular Dementia in 2004. A neurologist performed tow test: MRI & MRA, which showed all the damaged from the TIA'S over the years. Mothers'Day of 2005 she had another TIA, which let to a major heart attack. After being in the hospital for nine days our family doctor sent her home, with the help of Hospice. I had additional help from my family to care for Mom 24/7, as it was her final wish to die in her home. It proved to be the most difficult eleven days of our lives, as the pain she was in was terrible and heart breaking to witness. Having never done this before we coped by holding onto our faith, each other, and constant praying. I only wish during that year I had a place to go to, such as this blog. All the caregivers reading this, God Bless You and God's Help. LCF

    - LCF

  • October 6, 2007 6:21 p.m.

    Each of your postings are very meaningful to those of us on this long journey. As you read a posting with a question please give comment to the question if you have any imput. We all know that the advice or explanation we give is not professional help but it may be EXTREMELY helpful to someone in need at that moment. Keep up the good work, you all make me realize I am not alone even on a Saturday night.jbjb

    - jb

  • October 5, 2007 8:02 p.m.

    P.S. For those of you caregivers wondering about your own problems with mid-life mental acuity (losing keys, forgetting names, etc.) there are many possible causes. Recommend you look for a book that came out in April of this year, "Carved in Sand: When Attention Fails and Memory Fades in Midlife," by Cathryn Jakobson Ramin. Author is journalist facing her own problems and so researched the subject for the book. Has a whole chapter on Alzheimer's but many other topics (possible reasons for your problems) are covered. I felt a lot better after I read it and I haven't had most of the tests she talked about. My thanks to all of you who posted, and to Ms. Lunde for creating this resource.

    - Susan

  • October 5, 2007 7:54 p.m.

    First, anger-Alzheimer's normally affects "executive functions" like controlling anger or sadness or rude talk. We learned those functions in social contexts as we grew up. As they become less and less robust, annoyance can spiral into rage, feeling frustrated can become a crying fit, etc. You may or may not be able to help a person get past such an episode quickly, and this may vary with stage of the disease as well as the person's own character and how he/she is used to interacting with you. Secondly, I found that many drugs for colds & flu symptoms that we think of as benign can have much stronger effects on the elderly, regardless of dementia. My mom can't take many cold medicines anymore because some of them just make her loopier than usual. So instead she has to suffer through a cold with a very low-dose antihistamine which she uses for allergies anyway; saline nasal spray, and maybe a cough drop or syrup.

    - Susan

  • October 5, 2007 3:40 a.m.

    I also wanted to add my Grandfather out of state w/Alzheimers went to a "nursing house care facility" There were 4 men living there.To me, I liked that type of care given by a nurse.We now are dealing with my 81 yo Father-in-law w/AD and Parkinson's Disease.I myself was diagnosed 4 yrs. ago w/Parkinsons Disease.I just wonder how things will turn out later since both my Grandfathers had neurological disorders(AD) will I be more prone to getting this disease? Any comments welcome.

    - KMD

  • October 5, 2007 3:29 a.m.

    I have a few comments on Alzheimers.Both of my Grandfathers had Alzheimers Disease.One of them was 71, the other 93 I believe.My Grandfather in town was on Haloperidol (sp?) and this was in early stages of AD.He walked around like a zombie and very druggged up w/this medication.To my recollection he was put on another med.He was anxious, had days and nights mixed up- wanting to leave home at 2a.m. to go do osomething.He was very agitated and we had to take away driving early.AD is different for everyone- he was angry and at sometimes combative.My Grandmother took care of him until she could no longer.(even w/nurse aids,etc)He was in nursing home when died.The facility was o.k. I remember it being very depressing(Sorry)He didn't know us.My Grandfather out of state was cared for by my Grandmother until she fell, broke her hip while caring for him.He was also combative about simple tasks,etc.Caregivers, please don't compromise your health while caring for your loved one!

    - KMD

  • October 4, 2007 9:29 p.m.

    Nancy, My wife at present is on Aricept, Effexor, Namenda and Seroquel. i would say she has been in second stage of Alzheimer's for two years now. I have caregivers who come in at 9:00Am and stay until 1:00PM, come back at 7:30PM and get her to bed. I have her the rest of the time and it has worked out very well. I can only state tthe effect that Respirdal had on her and would not try to dissuade anyone else from taking it. I am very well satisfied with her progression rate at this time. We can only cope with each day and trust God to take care of the rest. My best to you and your family. Will

    - Will

  • October 4, 2007 3:07 p.m.

    My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's 9 years ago and was put on Aricept and 2 antidepressants.Very slow decline since then.Her husband died 2.5 years ago.I was told she needed 24hr care.I tried live-in caregivers with disastrous results.My mother couldn't understand why this stranger would not leave her house!I finally moved her to a dementia facility 6 mos. ago after she fell down her stairs and broke her shoulder.When I visit, she is angry at me because I won't take her home.She claims there is nothing wrong with her even though she repeats the same thing to me like we never had the conversation.She was not so kind when I was a child and is even worse now. Seraquel has helped, but she is very anxious, thinks her husband is still alive & people are stealing things.Like SJ, my stomach hurts when I go to visit her.Very little help from my other siblings.I am now in therapy and on antidepressants myself.At 81, Mom is in great physical shape, so I expect this will go on for some t

    - MJC

  • October 4, 2007 1:59 p.m.

    For the past 4 1/2 years I took care of my mother-in-law.She died March 21,2007 from the effects of Alzheimer's Disease....My wonderful husband took care of POA for her which was so smart of him to do this....We also saw to it to establish a living will..If she could not return to a quality of life that she was use to, do not resussitate,which we kept attached to her medical bed for ambulance personel...and she had taken care of her burial arrangements years before she no longer could make decisions...As he Caregiver I would repeat the experience in an instant...It became role reversal between the two of us. She was calling me Mommy and depended on me for nearly everything.I made sure that I let her do anything that I knew she was capable of which basically was folding towels.She never tired of that. Through all of her dementia when she knew it was time for her to go to a better place, she let me know. "I can't do this anymore." One week later she died. I was with her at that

    - Raelene

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