Alzheimer's Disease vs. Age-Related Memory Loss: Understanding the Difference

Memory loss is common as we age, and can also be brought on by certain medical conditions. Alzheimer's is a medical condition that causes dementia and other severe symptoms, but memory loss is only a part of it.

Normal Memory Loss

• Symptoms of normal memory loss include problems in paying attention, slow thinking and problems with visualization and organization.

Alzheimer's

• In addition to dementia, other symptoms of Alzheimer's include difficulty with language, changes in personality and difficulty in perceiving time and space.

Causes of Memory Loss

• Besides normal memory loss that occurs with age, some other causes are emotional disturbances, nutritional deficits, infections, high blood pressure and brain tumors.

Diagnosis

• Diagnosis of Alzheimer's is made after all other causes for dementia have been ruled out. An autopsy after death is the only way to accurately confirm an Alzheimer's diagnosis.

Progression

• Alzheimer's is a progressive disease. Early Alzheimer's signs are trouble remembering events, poor judgment and withdrawal. Middle-stage Alzheimer's symptoms include anger, paranoia and an inability to remember friends and family. Late-stage Alzheimer's symptoms include an inability to walk, seizures and loss of bladder and bowel control.