Thursday 12 June 2014

Alzheimer's or dementia?

Someone asked online: What is the difference between Alzheimer's and dementia?

I can understand why the question was asked as the two names are often used interchangeably.

Dementia is not a disease but a set of symptoms which are a feature of many diseases, perhaps the most common being Alzheimer's.

There's a lot more than can be said but that is the basic difference.

It is very confusing that 'Alzheimer's' is used so often when actually 'dementia' is far more appropriate.

I was reading the blurb for the Alzheimer's Show which is coming to Manchester (isn't that's a bit odd, by the way, a 'show'?) and is described as 'the UK's only dedicated exhibition and conference for families and professionals caring for a person with dementia'. So why isn't it called 'The Dementia Show'?

A very unhelpful and unnecessary confusion, I would suggest.

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