The difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia
Knowing the difference makes the difference
Being tend-trained means appreciating the subtle differences between similar-sounding conditions. For example, when individuals present signs of memory loss, the terms ‘dementia’ and ‘Alzheimer’s’ often get used in the same breath.
However, these conditions are very different entities.
What makes them different from one another? How can care workers know the difference? How does care differ between conditions?
Join tend as we break it all down, and discover all the ways these conditions differ from one another.
What is Dementia?
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a collection of symptoms caused by damage to the brain. It’s not a disease in itself. It’s a syndrome that results from various, underlying conditions.
Dementia affects:
- Memory
- Reasoning
- Decision-making
- Communication
- Behaviour
- Mood
- Daily functioning
For these reasons, people with dementia require a high level of support. Symptoms include:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Confusion over time and places
- Memory loss
- Personality shifts
- Reduced ability to perform everyday tasks
Astonishingly, there are over 200 types of dementia. However, the most common include:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Vascular dementia
- Frontotemporal dementia (FTD)
- Dementia with Lewy bodies
- Mixed dementia (combination of types)
Dementia is progressive, which means these symptoms only worsen over time.
What is Alzheimer’s disease?
Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for around 60-70% of dementia cases. Unlike dementia, Alzheimer’s is a disease, not a group of symptoms.
Alzheimer’s is caused by:
- A build-up of amyloid plaques
- Tau protein tangles
- Damage to nerve cells and brain tissue
- Progressive loss of key brain functions
The condition typically originates in the hippocampus (the brain’s memory centre), then spreads to areas controlling communication, reasoning, and movement.
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s include:
- Gradual, worsening memory loss
- Difficulty retaining new information
- Confusion and disorientation
- Language difficulties
- Changes in personality or mood
- Reduced problem-solving ability
- Impaired judgement
- Difficulty performing everyday tasks
As the disease progresses, sufferers of Alzheimer’s may face mobility challenges, trouble swallowing, and full dependence on care.
Dementia vs Alzheimer’s
With key differences between the two, a clear comparison can be made to illustrate how each of these conditions differ from one another:
Dementia:
- Umbrella term describing a range of symptoms
- Can result from 200+ conditions
- Can occur suddenly (e.g., vascular dementia) or gradually
- Symptoms vary by dementia type
- Treatment varies depending on cause
Alzheimer’s:
- A specific disease that causes dementia
- Has a known biological cause (plaques and tangles)
- Typically develops slowly and gradually worsens
- Symptoms follow a more predictable pattern
- No cure, but medications may slow progression
- Care focuses on memory support, communication, safety and emotional wellbeing
In short, all Alzheimer’s is dementia; but not all dementia is Alzheimer’s.
How does care differ between dementia and Alzheimer’s?
In the case of Alzheimer’s, care focusses on:
- Memory support
- Predictable routines
- Clear, calm communication
- Reducing confusion triggers
- Maintaining independence for as long as possible
- Emotional reassurance
- Cognitive stimulation
- Support with daily activities
- Managing behavioural changes
In the later stages of the disease, individuals may need support with mobility, personal hygiene and care, swallowing food and drink, and end-of-life care.
In the case of dementia, care is dependent on the type the individual is suffering from. For example, with vascular dementia, care may focus on:
- Managing risk of further strokes
- Mobility and physiotherapy
- Monitoring physical health
- Support with executive functioning
However, a different type of dementia would require a different approach. Lewy body dementia, for example, requires specialised support for hallucinations, and movement-related symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease. Whereas frontotemporal dementia care often focusses on managing behavioural changes, and communication challenges.
Distinctions made between these types matter, because they dictate the levels and approaches to care required. Each variant has its own set of risks, needs, and medication plans. So, the more care professionals can distinguish the differences, the more they are able to provide the best and most appropriate care plan for the individual.
What skills do workers need for dementia and Alzheimer’s care?
Care workers need to be able to adapt to each individual’s needs to ensure care excellence is delivered in each case.
Key skills required include:
- Person-centred communication – adapting tone, pace, and non-verbal communication to the individual
- Empathy and emotional intelligence – understanding anxiety, frustration, and confusion
- Patience and calmness – to reduce any further distress for the individual
- Behaviour-as-communication understanding – recognising that agitation or withdrawal often signals unmet needs
- Knowledge of triggers – noise, overstimulation, and unfamiliar routines and environments can trigger responses from the individual
- Keen observation – spotting changes in mood, mobility, cognition, and appetite
- Safeguarding awareness – protecting the individual from any potential neglect, exploitation, or harm
- Managing challenging behaviours – utilising reassurance, distraction, de-escalation, and gentle redirection to ease situations
- Supporting independence – helping the individual to balance safety with autonomy
- End-of-life sensitivity – offering compassionate support in the later stages
Embodying these skills and behaviours will ensure a care worker can properly support individuals dealing with their deteriorating condition, and help to make their lives as comfortable and concern-free as possible.
How apprenticeships help learners understand dementia vs Alzheimer’s
Dementia awareness is embedded across all care apprenticeships. However, there are specialist pathways available.
For example, at tend, we offer our Level 3 Lead Adult Care Worker Dementia apprenticeship, which helps learners to build knowledge in:
- Person-centred dementia care
- Safeguarding
- Mental capacity
- Health and safety
- Communication
- Wellbeing
This programme also helps learners develop leadership behaviours, so they can go on to guide their teams with confidence and compassion.
tend also offers CPD courses in End-of-Life awareness and Health & Safety, which can further enhance dementia care skills.
Final thoughts
It’s easy to see why the terms dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are often used interchangeably. Both are associated with memory loss and progressive deterioration for individuals. However, that’s because Alzheimer’s is one of several types of dementia.
For each form dementia comes in, there is a different set of procedures and approaches for care. Some types cause hallucinations; others affect body movements. Knowing the characteristics of each variant will put care workers in a good position to provide a high level of care excellence for dementia sufferers.
Most apprenticeships embed the fundamentals required for dementia and Alzheimer’s care. However, training providers like tend offer specialist programmes designed to build the skills, knowledge and behaviours required to deal specifically with dementia cases.
These conditions deeply impact individuals and families. Creating a workforce that is qualified to support and provide comfort to those affected, is a positive step towards ensuring that their lives are made a little easier, and any suffering kept to a minimum.
Ready to explore dementia care training options? Reach out to our team today. Call 01753 596 004 or hit the button below.
