What is the difference between Alzheimer’s and Dementia?

Dementia is the term applied to a group of symptoms that negatively impact memory, but Alzheimer’s is a specific progressive disease of the brain that slowly causes impairment in memory and cognitive function. The exact cause is unknown, and there’s no cure. Although younger people can get Alzheimer’s, the symptoms generally begin after age 65.

The effects of Alzheimer’s on the brain
In people with Alzheimer’s disease, brain cells die and connections between brain cells may break down. One of the hallmark symptoms is abnormal protein deposits in the brain called plaques and tangles.
Plaques are dense clusters of protein that can block communication between neurons. Tangles are proteins that twist together that lead to the death of healthy brain cells.
In advanced Alzheimer’s, the brain shows significant shrinkage. Changes in the brain may occur a decade or more before symptoms start.
It’s impossible to diagnose Alzheimer’s accurately while a person is alive. The diagnosis can only be confirmed post mortem during an autopsy. However, specialists can make the correct diagnosis up to 90 percent of the time.