Neurological Awareness
Getting to Know Dementia: Is Forgetfulness Just Aging?
Mrs. Ayşe was a lively, cheerful person who loved to chat. One afternoon, while having tea with her neighbors on the balcony, her eyes suddenly filled with tears: “Where are my keys? I haven’t been able to find them for days,” she said, and returned to the same question repeatedly. Her daughter had noticed for several weeks that her mother was more absent-minded, her conversations more disconnected, and she was increasingly forgetful. Over time, losing her keys went beyond mere forgetfulness: Even remembering her favorite recipe became difficult. With each day, the family’s sadness and worries grew. Was this just aging, or could it be something more serious?
We all experience periods where forgetfulness increases in our lives. However, sometimes this forgetfulness exceeds ordinary aging and turns into a complex picture like “dementia.” When we don’t know what it is, it unleashes an emotional storm for both the patient and their loved ones. In this article, you’ll find a scientific yet straightforward guide on what dementia means, its relationship with Alzheimer’s disease, and how to tell them apart.
What is Dementia?
Dementia is a syndrome characterized by a loss or significant impairment of the brain’s cognitive functions—such as learning, memory, reasoning, language, and behavior. This can lead to severe problems that affect daily functioning. It is usually progressive, meaning symptoms worsen over time.
According to 2023 data, more than 55 million people worldwide are living with dementia, and nearly 10 million new cases are diagnosed annually.
Dementia is not the name of a disease. It’s an umbrella term triggered by multiple causes.
Different types of brain damage in different regions lead to various types of dementia.
In rare instances, dementia can be due to reversible causes (e.g., certain vitamin deficiencies, thyroid disorders, infections).
Common Symptoms of Dementia
Although everyone experiences it differently, the main symptoms include:
Forgetting recent events and important occasions
Language difficulties (trouble finding words, reduced speech)
Decline in reasoning and decision-making skills
Disorientation in time and place
Difficulty organizing activities (can’t pay bills, mix up recipes)
Changes in personality and behavior
In some patients, even hallucinations or paranoia
Types of Dementia
The main types of dementia include:
Alzheimer’s disease: The most common type of dementia, accounting for about 60-70% of all cases.
Vascular dementia: Arises due to blockages and blood flow problems in brain vessels.
Lewy body dementia: Characterized by hallucinations and slowed movement.
Frontotemporal dementia: Usually starts with changes in behavior and language difficulties.
Other rare types: Dementia associated with Parkinson’s disease, dementia due to Huntington’s disease, reversible dementias.
Alzheimer’s Disease: The Most Well-Known Face of Dementia
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. It entered medical literature in 1906 when Dr. Alois Alzheimer described changes in one of his patients. The main pathology is the accumulation of proteins (beta-amyloid plaques and tau tangles) in the brain that disrupt communication between neurons. Over time, these accumulations cause neuron death and shrinkage of brain tissue.
The onset of Alzheimer’s is usually insidious. Short-term memory loss is most noticeable at first; the person may not correctly remember a recent event, conversation, or the date. As the disease progresses, broader problems in language, reasoning, behavior, and personality are added.
The disease occurs in 5-8% of those over 65. The risk increases with age.
Genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors all play a role.
Alzheimer’s and Dementia: How Are They Related?
Alzheimer’s and dementia are often confused or mistakenly thought to be the same. However, there is a fundamental difference between the two terms:
Dementia | Alzheimer's Disease |
|---|---|
An umbrella "syndrome" that can develop as a result of many diseases | The most common cause of dementia, a brain disease |
Related to damage in different brain regions | Progressive protein accumulation especially in the brain’s memory centers |
Onset, course, and symptoms vary according to type | Usually starts with memory loss, slow and progressive |
There are reversible and irreversible types of dementia | Has a malignant and irreversible progression |
In other words: “Every Alzheimer’s patient has dementia, but not every dementia patient has Alzheimer’s.” A patient with vascular dementia, for example, may not meet the criteria for Alzheimer’s.
How to Tell the Difference Between Dementia and Alzheimer's?
Both conditions may start with forgetfulness, but a detailed medical evaluation clarifies the type of dementia. Diagnosis focuses on:
Taking a detailed history: Reports from the patient and family, when and how symptoms started
Physical examination: Sometimes even subtle findings can lead to a diagnosis
Neurological tests: Testing memory, language, ability to follow simple commands, attention
Brain imaging: MRI or CT scans to investigate changes in brain tissue and rule out other causes
Blood tests: To exclude vitamin deficiencies or hormonal problems
In Alzheimer’s-type dementia, memory disorders are usually prominent and progress quietly; in conditions like vascular (blood vessel) dementia, there may be sudden fluctuations or noticeable changes in walking.
The Social Impact of Dementia and Alzheimer's
The incidence of dementia is rapidly increasing in Turkey, causing significant changes in parent-child relationships and family dynamics. Studies show that more than 600,000 people in Turkey are living with dementia. As the population ages, this number keeps rising.
Dementia affects not only the individual but also the family, close circle, and society as a whole. It brings daily care needs, communication challenges, and, for both patients and caregivers, feelings of guilt, stress, and sadness. Many caregivers experience burnout and depression. Therefore, “caregiver health” must also be carefully addressed alongside the disease itself.
Causes and Risk Factors: Dementia and Alzheimer's
The causes leading to dementia include:
Cerebrovascular diseases (stroke, vascular occlusion)
Protein accumulations (as seen in Alzheimer’s)
Genetic predisposition (APOE-e4 gene, familial Alzheimer’s)
Infections (e.g., Syphilis, HIV, Lyme disease)
Metabolic and hormonal disorders (B12 deficiency, thyroid disease)
Traumas
Rarely; brain tumors, medications, and toxic substances
The main risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease is aging. After age 65, the risk doubles every five years. It is seen slightly more often in women. Lifestyle, nutrition, and mental activity also affect risk.
Is It Possible to Reduce the Risk of Dementia?
There is no definitive way to prevent the disease, but there’s strong evidence that changes in lifestyle and health habits can decrease the risk of developing dementia:
Regular physical activity
A vegetable-rich diet like the Mediterranean diet, low in processed foods
Participation in social activities and mental stimulation (solving puzzles, learning new hobbies)
Well-controlled blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol
Limiting smoking and alcohol consumption
Maintaining good sleep patterns
Large epidemiological studies, like the FINGER Study published in 2009, show that multi-faceted interventions, especially when started in midlife, can be effective.
Progression of the Disease and Importance of Care
Dementia is a progressive disease. Over time, the patient:
Becomes unable to perform daily tasks independently.
Requires increased personal care.
Has difficulty communicating; sometimes may not even recognize loved ones.
Behavioral and psychological disorders can become increasingly challenging.
Professional support helps patients and families cope more easily. There is still no cure that completely removes the disease, but medications and supportive approaches exist to slow its progression and control symptoms.
Emotional Support for Patients and Their Loved Ones
Dementia is as much an emotional test for loved ones as for the patient. Patience, understanding and social support are the most valuable elements. The day when your mother or father doesn’t recognize you can be an indescribable pain. That’s why it’s recommended caregivers don’t neglect their own needs and join support groups.
Many caregivers feel battered by the sense of “not being able to do enough.” However, small, gentle gestures—a look, patient listening, or a tender touch—can heal both the patient and their loved one.
Early Diagnosis: When Should You Seek Help?
If you notice forgetfulness or cognitive impairment, instead of saying, “That’s just aging; it happens,” be sure to consult a neurologist or geriatric specialist. Especially when:
Personal routines have significantly changed
There are noticeable changes in behavior, temperament, or emotions
There is confusion about finding one’s way or familiar places
Difficulties in personal self-care become apparent
Those around are saying, “They aren’t like they used to be”
If you witness these changes in your family or loved ones, consulting a specialist not only ensures the right diagnosis but also provides the benefits of early planning.
Living in Harmony with Alzheimer’s and Dementia
After diagnosis, simple approaches can enhance the patient’s quality of life:
Daily routines and facilitating home arrangements (labels, visual cues)
Sufficient lighting, safety measures
Nutritious and healthy diet
Emotional bonds: Love, patience, hugs
Approaching negative behaviors constructively—redirecting or distracting instead of arguing
Loved ones should also take time for themselves and not hesitate to ask for help
Sometimes forgetfulness is just a minor distraction, but other times, it may signal an illness. It is not contagious, but this is an illness “contagiously hard” for all of us... Still, knowing, understanding, recognizing early, and aging side by side together is the most valuable journey.
Conclusion: Knowledge and Understanding Empower Us
Dementia and Alzheimer’s are journeys that reshape the lives of families across three generations—challenging, but surmountable together. Not every case of forgetfulness is simply aging; investigating, recognizing early, and raising awareness are the first steps toward solutions. May knowledge, love, and compassion be your truest guides through this difficult process.
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