Alzheimer’s disease and others

Can you kindly explain the differences between Alzheimer’ disease, dementia, cognitive impairment and memory loss?

Raimi (by SMS)

Dementia is a catch-all term and covers all types of brain problems. Alzheimer’s is a specific type of dementia with brain changes including the build-up of amyloid plaques and Tau tangles (this is found in autopsies after death – no one cuts their skull apart while still living and survives).

Cognitive impairment is difficulty thinking learning, remembering and making decisions — another catch-all term, but for more mild dementia. And memory loss covers all of these – it is one of the symptoms of brain problems.

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