Dementia is an umbrella term for several types of diseases. Alzheimer’s disease is one type of dementia. Let me explain.

Dementia is a broad description that includes many different symptoms of general decline in mental ability. It must be severe enough to interfere with daily life. It is caused by injury or loss of brain cells (neurons). Once brain cells are injured, they lose their ability to communicate with other cells, leading to dysfunction.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are a number of conditions that affect the brain and can be attributed to the category of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60 to 80 percent of cases. Vascular dementia, which occurs after a stroke, is the second most common dementia type. Other causes for dementia include Lewy body

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