Families caring for individuals with Alzheimer's and other related Dementia often have many questions but might not have time to attend support groups or to find reliable answers online. Oasis Dementia Care created this website to provide families with a convenient way to ask specific questions that are answered by a member of our team. With a combined experience of over 50 years of caring for individuals with Alzheimer's we are delighted to be a resource for your family. We will respond to every question via email as quickly as possible.
Dementia is an umbrella term for a set of symptoms including impaired thinking and memory. It is a term that is often associated with the cognitive decline of aging. However, issues other than Alzheimer's can cause dementia. According to the Center for Disease Control, Alzheimer's disease is a common cause of dementia causing as many as 50 to 70% of all dementia cases. In fact, Alzheimer's is a very specific form of dementia. Symptoms of Alzheimer's include impaired thought, impaired speech, and confusion. Doctors use a variety of screenings to determine the cause of dementia including blood tests, mental status evaluations and brain scans. When a person is diagnosed with dementia, they are being diagnosed with a set of symptoms. This is similar to someone who has a sore throat. Their throat is sore, but it is not known what is causing that particular symptom. It could be allergies, strep throat, or a common cold. Similarly, when someone has dementia they are experiencing symptoms without being told what is causing those symptoms. Another major difference between the two is that Alzheimer's is not a reversible disease. It is degenerative and incurable at this time. Some forms of dementia, such as a drug interaction or a vitamin deficiency, are actually reversible or temporary. Once a cause of dementia is found appropriate treatment and counseling can begin. Until a proper diagnosis is made, the best approach to any dementia is engagement, communication and loving care.
What is the difference between Alzheimer's and Dementia?
There are many form of Dementia's. Dementia is an umbrella term for a set of symptoms including impaired thinking and memory. According to the Center for Disease Control, Alzheimer's disease is a common cause of dementia causing as many as 50 to 70% of all dementia cases. Alzheimer's is a very specific form of dementia.
Is there a test to diagnose Alzheimer's disease?
There's no specific test today that confirms you have Alzheimer's disease. Your doctor will make a judgment about whether Alzheimer's is the most likely cause of your symptoms based on the information you provide and results of various tests that can help clarify the diagnosis.
Doctors can nearly always determine whether you have dementia, and they can often identify whether your dementia is due to Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease can be diagnosed with complete accuracy only after death, when microscopic examination of the brain reveals the characteristic plaques and tangles. To help distinguish Alzheimer's disease from other causes of memory loss, doctors now typically rely on the following types of tests.
Is there a test to diagnose Alzheimer's disease?
Right now, there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease. Once a person starts showing signs – memory loss and problems with learning, judgment, communication, and daily life -- there aren't any treatments that can stop or reverse them.
But there are medicines that can ease some of the symptoms in some people. They can slow down how quickly the disease gets worse, and help the brain work better for longer. It's important to talk to your doctor about which option may work best for you.
I keep forgetting things, have I got Alzheimer's?
If you know that you have lost an item, most likely you do not have Alzheimer's. It is when you don't realize you have misplaced something that there is possibly an issue.
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