What is the Difference Between Amnesia Dementia and Alzheimer’s?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between amnesia, dementia, and Alzheimer's lies in their definitions and the scope of their symptoms. Here is a breakdown of each term:
- Amnesia: Amnesia is another word for memory loss and is a symptom that can be caused by various factors, such as a recent stroke, insomnia, delirium, or aging. It exclusively affects memory and is not a disease but a symptom of an underlying condition.
- Dementia: Dementia is a general term for a decline in cognitive abilities, including memory loss, that are severe enough to interfere with daily life. It is caused by damage to brain cells that affect their ability to communicate, which can affect thinking, behavior, and feelings. Dementia is not a normal part of aging and is caused by various diseases, with Alzheimer's being the most common cause.
- Alzheimer's: Alzheimer's is a specific degenerative brain disease that causes dementia. It is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of dementia cases. Alzheimer's is a degenerative condition, which means it gets worse over time, leading to more severe symptoms such as losing the ability to swallow, speak, and move around easily.
In summary, amnesia is a symptom of memory loss, dementia is a general term for a decline in cognitive abilities, and Alzheimer's is a specific brain disease that causes dementia. While Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia, it is not the only one, and the terms are not interchangeable.
Comparative Table: Amnesia Dementia vs Alzheimer’s
Here is a table comparing the differences between Amnesia, Dementia, and Alzheimer's:
| Feature | Amnesia | Dementia | Alzheimer's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Definition | Memory loss | Memory loss & | Memory loss, primarily short-term |
| disturbance of | |||
| everyday activities | |||
| Age | Can occur at any age | Mainly observed after 65 years | Can occur in mid-60s |
| Caused by | Damage or abnormality in the brain | Damage or abnormality in the brain | Damage or abnormality in the brain |
| Symptoms | Memory loss without other cognitive problems | Memory loss, cognitive impairments, disturbance of everyday activities | Memory loss, primarily short-term, cognitive impairments |
| Onset | Can be sudden or gradual | Can be gradual or sudden | Can be gradual or sudden |
| Progression | Can be permanent or temporary | Can be permanent or temporary | Almost always progressive, eventually leading to severe mental decline |
| Treatment | Medications, therapy | Medications, therapy | Medications, therapy, no cure |
| Prevalence | Rare | Common, affects 50 million people worldwide | Most common cause of dementia, accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases |
Please note that amnesia, dementia, and Alzheimer's are all caused by brain damage or abnormalities, and all have memory loss as a key symptom. However, the severity, progression, and other symptoms associated with each condition differ.
- Amnesia vs Dementia
- Alzheimer’s vs Dementia
- Alzheimers vs Dementia
- Alzheimer’s vs Senility
- Delirium vs Dementia
- Delirium vs Dementia
- Schizophrenia vs Alzheimer’s
- Dementia vs Psychosis
- Huntington’s Disease vs Alzheimer’s
- Anterograde vs Retrograde Amnesia
- Senile vs Presenile Dementia
- Cortical vs Subcortical Dementia
- Frontotemporal Dementia vs Vascular Dementia
- Alzheimer’s vs CTE
- Lewy Body Dementia vs Vascular Dementia
- Dissociative Amnesia vs Dissociative Fugue
- Amyloid Plaques vs Neurofibrillary Tangles
- ALS vs MND
- Remember vs Recall