Question:
Dementia and Alzheimers!What is the difference between these 2 illnesses? Is one more severe thanthe other? My Father-in-Law is 84 yrs. old and suffers from Dementia whichhe has had for 18 months now.

can anyone give me some suggestions or ideas??? Or can you show me how to find out source of information to learn about???

Answer: alzheimer's disease is one cause of the symptoms known asdementia (memory loss).

chances are your FIL has had it for far longer than 18 months,he's just been diagnosed (and not very well at that) for thatlong.

dementia is the diagnosis used by doctors who don't have a clueabout the various types and causes of dementias. some can becured, so if your FIL hasn't had a full neurological andpsychiatric exam to determine the cause of his dementia, heshould have one immediately. at his age he's on medicare, andall he needs a referral to a neurologist or geriatricpsychiatrist. if his primary care doc won't do a referral, heneeds a new doctor.