These terms are often used interchangeably, but they actually have different meanings. Dementia is
not a specific disease. It’s an umbrella term that describes a wide range of symptoms. These
symptoms affect people’s ability to perform everyday activities on their own. Common symptoms of
dementia include:
A decline in memory
Changes in thinking skills
Poor judgment and reasoning skills
Decreased focus and attention
Changes in language
Changes in behaviour
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, but it’s not the only one. There are many
different types and causes of dementia, including:
Lewy body dementia
Frontotemporal dementia
Vascular dementia
Limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy
Parkinson’s disease dementia
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Huntington’s disease
Mixed dementia
While dementia is a general term, Alzheimer’s disease is a specific brain disease. It is marked by
symptoms of dementia that gradually get worse over time. Alzheimer’s disease first affects the part of
the brain associated with learning, so early symptoms often include changes in memory, thinking and
reasoning skills. As the disease progresses, symptoms become more severe and include confusion,
changes in behaviour and other challenges
Impact of a dementia diagnosis
Someone recently diagnosed with dementia is likely to experience a range of emotions. These may
include grief, loss, anger, shock, fear, disbelief and even relief. Sometimes people experience positive
reactions when they receive a diagnosis of dementia. They can feel relieved to know what is wrong or
be glad to be able to plan ahead.
Some people may struggle to deal with these emotions. They may feel afraid about the future, scared
about moments of confusion and forgetfulness, and upset about the impact dementia has on those
around them.
The confirmation of a diagnosis may trigger depression and anxiety in some people. There are a
number of talking therapies and – if needed – drug treatments available for depression and anxiety.
Those around the person will also have their own emotional reactions to cope with. It is important that
both the person with dementia and those around them feel able to express their feelings.
Emotional effects
People with dementia often experience changes in their emotional responses. They may have less
control over their feelings and how to express them. For example, someone may overreact to things,
have rapid mood changes or feel irritable. They may also appear unusually distant or uninterested in
things.
These changes are often difficult for carers to deal with. It can help to remember that these changes
are partly caused by damage to the person’s brain. Someone may react more emotionally to a
situation than might be expected because of a decline in their ability to think clearly or loss of factual
memories.
It is important to look beyond the words or behaviours you see to the feelings that the person might be
trying to express. Strong emotions may also be caused by unmet needs. Carers should try to work out
what these needs are and meet them where possible.
Impact on confidence and self-esteem
Dementia may cause people to feel insecure and lose confidence in themselves and their abilities.
They may feel they are no longer in control and may not trust their own judgement. They may also
experience the effects of stigma and social ‘demotion’ – not being treated the same way by people –
as a result of their diagnosis.
Effects on health, financial circumstances, employment status and relationships with those around
them may also have a negative impact on self-esteem.
However, some people form new relationships as a result of their diagnosis, through activities such as
attending a class or support group. High self-esteem allows some people to cope better with chronic
health conditions.