Dementia or Memory Loss — Evaluating Your Loved One’s Memory
Alzheimer’s is currently the sixth-leading cause of death in America. At present, more than 5 million individuals are living with dementia. By the year 2050, this figure is expected to rise to 14 million. 80% of these individuals are above the age of 75. The terms Alzheimer’s and dementia are often used interchangeably but that’s incorrect. Dementia refers to a set of symptoms that indicate memory loss. In contrast, Alzheimer’s is a specific disease that’s a cause of dementia. In this post, we’ll discuss how to help a senior loved one dealing with dementia. Know the differences Occasional memory lapses are pretty normal among aged individuals and they don’t always mean dementia. Let’s take a look at the differences: · If a senior loved one deals with occasional memory lapses but is mostly able to function independently—it’s not dementia. However, individuals with dementia will find it difficult to perform simple tasks and often forget how to do things they’ve done mult...