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What is difference of symptoms between Alzheimer’s and Dementia?

A myALZteam Member asked a question 💭
Aberdeen, NC

I feel that sometimes people take Alzheimer’s as an older person disease.
I was diagnosed at 62, early onset.
Dementia is not described as being under Alzheimer’s or vs verse? Confusing to which causes the other?

October 19
 · 
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myALZteam

These are really great questions, and the confusion is completely understandable — even doctors used to mix this up! Here's the clearest way to think about it:

Dementia is the umbrella, Alzheimer's is under it.

Think of dementia like the word "fruit" — it describes a category. Alzheimer's is like "apple" — a specific type Show Full Answer

These are really great questions, and the confusion is completely understandable — even doctors used to mix this up! Here's the clearest way to think about it:

Dementia is the umbrella, Alzheimer's is under it.

Think of dementia like the word "fruit" — it describes a category. Alzheimer's is like "apple" — a specific type within that category. Alzheimer's actually causes about 60–80% of all dementia cases, making it the most common cause. So what's the difference in symptoms?

Dementia is a broad term for a significant decline in mental abilities that affects daily life. General dementia symptoms can include:

- Trouble remembering recent events
- Difficulty planning or solving problems
- Confusion about time or place
- Changes in mood or behavior

Alzheimer's specifically causes these same symptoms, but also has some distinct features:

- Difficulty storing new information (not just accessing old memories)
- Progressive worsening over time — it doesn't plateau
- Changes in focus, mood, planning, and ability to do basic tasks About the "older person" assumption — you're right to push back on that.

While more than 90% of Alzheimer's cases are diagnosed at 65 or older, early-onset Alzheimer's — diagnosed before 65 — is very real. Being diagnosed at 62 puts you in that category, and your experience is just as valid and recognized.

Early-onset Alzheimer's is the same disease, just diagnosed earlier in life.

October 19
A myALZteam Member

Look at it like this:

Dementia is a big umbrella, underneath it are many different forms of Dementia.

Such as: Alzheimer's disease
Lewy Body Disease
Frontal Temporal Lobe Disease
Mixed Dementa
Vascular Dementia
Early onset Alzheimer's Disease

And there are many more that are forms of Dementia, but the ones I listed above are the majority of Dementia's.

I hope that makes sense.

Deborah Helm

October 20
A myALZteam Member

Do you have more information around Young Set Alzheimer’s?

October 19

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