Alzheimer's versus dementia

A fellow caregiver asked...

Is there some reason your site insists on only discussing "Alzheimers" and not dementia? Yes, the are very similar and often follow the same progression BUT they are NOT THE SAME. At the least, the planning and care giving is different. Life can be long for Alzheimer's patients, it is shorter for dementia patients (more likely than not). As a caregiver of a dementia patient I feel shorted by the lack of address to dementia. Just correcting the writing to include both would be less offensive.

Expert Answer

Paula Spencer Scott is the author of Surviving Alzheimer's. A Met Life Foundation Journalists in Aging fellow, she writes extensively about health and caregiving; four of her family members have had dementia.

You are absolutely correct that Alzheimer's is just one form of dementia and there are many others. The earliest content created for this website focused first on Alzheimer's simply because of its dominance. We're developing more information to address dementia generally, as well as using broader and more inclusive terms to refer to advice that could apply to any kind of dementia. Thanks for sharing this important distinction.