Dementia is a serious and growing health concern affecting over 55 million people around the world. However, many mistakenly conflate the condition with Alzheimer’s Disease. According to Beck, Lenox & Stolzer Estate Planning and Elder Law, many people are unaware that Alzheimer’s is just one type of dementia. Care highlights the differences between Dementia and Alzheimer’s, and the importance of understanding them.
What Is Dementia?
Dementia describes a decline in cognitive function and mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. Memory loss is a common symptom. However, dementia can also impact reasoning, comprehension, language and spatial awareness. Different types of dementia have distinct symptoms and causes.
What Is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that primarily affects memory. It often starts with short-term memory loss, such as forgetting conversations, misplacing items and repeating oneself. As the disease progresses, it can also impact:
- Language skills
- Visual perception
- Driving skills
- Ability to manage finances or use technology
What are Other Forms of Dementia?
Besides Alzheimer’s disease, there are several other common types of dementia, each with unique symptoms and causes. Understanding these different types helps in recognizing symptoms and seeking appropriate care.
Lewy Body Dementia (LBD)
Lewy Body Dementia affects thinking, reasoning and processing information. It often presents with hallucinations and behavioral issues. People with LBD may experience agitation, memory problems and symptoms like Parkinson’s disease, such as tremors and slow movements.
Vascular Dementia
Vascular dementia is caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, often due to a stroke or chronic illness. Symptoms can include confusion, slowed thinking, difficulty concentrating and problems with organization. The symptoms vary depending on the location of the blocked or damaged blood vessels.
Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)
Frontotemporal Dementia affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, which control personality, language and movement. Symptoms can include changes in personality, behavior, language difficulties, memory loss and confusion.
How Is Dementia Diagnosed?
There isn’t a single test for dementia. Doctors instead use various sources of information, including patient history, family observations and physical exams, to determine the type of dementia. Cognitive testing and MRIs may also assess memory, attention, language and other cognitive abilities.
The Importance of Early Planning
The sooner someone facing a dementia diagnosis begins planning for their future care and financial decisions, the better for their loved ones. This planning involves discussing the person’s wishes and preparing legal documents.
“Have the conversation,” says Martha Mannix, a clinical associate professor of law at the University of Pittsburgh Law School. In an article by Tribdem, she emphasizes the importance of discussing who the person wants to be with, how they want to spend their time and putting themselves in the person’s shoes.
How Powers of Attorney and Advance Healthcare Directives Can Help
Legal documents, like healthcare power of attorney and financial power of attorney, are indispensable to protecting yourself against dementia. These documents ensure that power over your finances and healthcare lies with your family, not a court-appointed guardian. Establish a financial power of attorney, a healthcare power of attorney and an advance healthcare directive to control your end-of-life care, emergency healthcare and finances.
Start Planning for Alzheimer’s and Dementia Today
If you or a loved one faces a dementia diagnosis, get a good understanding of the differences between dementia and Alzheimer’s and make sure you have a good estate plan in place. Contact our law firm today to schedule a free phone consultation and learn how estate planning can support you and your family in the face of cognitive decline. Begin the process here.
Key Takeaways
- Understanding Dementia: Dementia is a decline in cognitive function severe enough to interfere with daily life, encompassing various symptoms beyond memory loss.
- Alzheimer’s Disease: The most common form of dementia, primarily affecting short-term memory and progressively impairing cognitive functions.
- Different Types of Dementia: Lewy Body Dementia, Vascular Dementia and Frontotemporal Dementia each have distinct causes and symptoms, requiring unique approaches to care and treatment.
- Have Essential Conversations: Discussing wishes and preparing legal documents, like advance healthcare directives and financial power of attorney, ensures that an individual’s preferences are respected.
References: Care (Jan. 7, 2022) “Understanding the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s: What experts say you need to know” and Tribdem (Jul. 29, 2023) “Dealing with dementia | Planning ahead: ‘Have the conversation’ | News | tribdem.com”
