Advice

What is the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease?

My mum had been diagnosed with early onset dementia around 5 years ago but I am not sure if she has been diagnosed with a particular form of dementia. My father is very vague on the details and I would like to know if early onset dementia would be followed up with further test to diagnose a particular disease or do we presume it's Alzheimer's. I am very much in the dark with everything and would appreciate a little guidance. Many thanks

My mum got diagnosed with vascular dementia in February this year,,, it has totally thrown my Dad, sister and me into a very scary place. My mum has people round today to say whether it is definite VD, or Alzheimer. We don't know where to go from here, My Dad looks after her he is 80 she is 77,, but we go and help clean and fo shopping and anything else My Dad needs us to do. It's hard to stay strong, as my Mum knows there is something wrong with her head but cannot put her finger on it. The good thing is, that she knows who we all are, so we just need to know who we go through to help us understand things properly, and where to get help when and if we need it, as she is ok at the minute.

My Dad has been diagnosed with Vascular Dementia recently. I haven't seen him for awhile but would like to. What is it like seeing a loved one who has rapidly progressing dementia for the first time? Is there anything I should or shouldn't say? I wouldn't want to upset him but I desperately want to see him before he forgets who I am.

I am rather concerned about my husband. He will be 77 in September. Sometimes he totally mucks up simple tasks, and other times he is absolutely fine. I thought he was joking when he was saying that I hadn't told him things, but I realise now that he truly doesn't remember. His usual .is sunny and kind, but now, occasionally, he is not very nice, and then he will just go back to being nice again. We do go, together, to the Dr, regularly for our repeat scrips, and if any need arises, so this is good as our Dr has known us for over 12 years, since we shifted to Auckland. His mother had alzeimhers as did my Dad, but I dont know how to recognise the beginnings or simple signs, so I can be aware. Thank you for your time.

I feel confused of late and have been mixing up my words, I feel as if I'm in a sort of fog which doesn't seem to clear? When I'm out with my friends everyone is chatting and laughing and I seem to keep stumbling over what I plan to say but my words don't come out right and I find that people look at me as if I'm not quite right!

My parents are both 94 this year my mother has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s she has basically given up doing anything ,my father has been making tea and toast or a sandwich but I do everything else cooking cleaning washing shopping etc my dad has been getting very disoriented lately and often phones and says he’s somewhere he’s not ( they have been shielding a year) today he phoned my husband to tell him that he and my mum were in Spain running a pub it took us a long time to explain that he’s home ! I have cancer and it’s not curable but I am doing ok I’m also an only child so it all falls on myself and my husband, I don’t even know why I’m writing this just need to vent I think 😀

My husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's last year (after much persuasion and eventually given Donepezilo 10 mg.
When and who to I go to, to find out when the medication needs increasing?

Very informative

My Dad has been having a couple of tests as his memory is terrible and he gets letters mixed up when writing simple words like soup. He’s been referred to our local memory clinic and he spoke to the dr last week and he’s told my mum that he has the early signs of dementia. I’m worried about how my Mum will cope if he definitely does have it as he has a bad temper and shouts all the time if anyone says something he disagrees with! so I’m dreading it if he gets any worse as it really upsets my Mum, they’ve been married 50 years this year and love them both to bits!

My 77 year old mum had a fall in May 2020 and broke her right hip causing hospitalisation. It appears this may have caused or accelerated the onset of Alzheimers. She was diagnosed in December with "Dementia in Alzheimers disease with late onset". As Dementia and Alzheimers are different, I am slightly confused myself as to what to expect for her in the future . . .

My friend is saying that her house has fruit fly's . They are on her pillow &. In the kitchen .no other house has them.
She said they are tiny black things.
I asked if they had wings ? She said no, not that she can see.
Her memory is bad , over ten years now.
Is this Lewy bodies ?

My grandfather died a few years back, and he had some form of dementia. The hardest part about it was that he didn't remember me or my sister when we visited him in the care home. His was early onset, so we knew how to cope with things like that. My grandmother would see him twice daily and when he died I think she felt like she had no purpose anymore. We loved her to bits, but we lived far away from them and would only go up at Christmas times and several other holidays. My grandfather remembered music well though, and me and my sister would play music for him every time we went.

My husband is 70 he loses his patience with simple tasks , like opening things, and doing simple daily tasks, he gets frustrated and angry and shouts, do not like him

Hi my wife is 86. .. the doctor says she has Alzheimer’s ,,,, her mobility is getting really bad ... she says she can’t handle every day tasks ,, housework etc ,,, a carer comes in in a morning to help shower and dress her ...what I can’t get my head around is when you read about Alzheimer’s it always mentions memory loss but hers is sharp as a pin past and present she reminds my to do things .... she does suffer from acute anxiety and depression she shuffles and keeps saying “I don’t know what to do “ also takes a memory tablet memenatine also other meds ,,, does anyone else have this type of Alzheimer’s with no memory loss at all thank you mike

Thank you for this educative piece. I was not aware of the various diseases that all under 'dementia'.