A major misconception in mental health today is that dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and insanity mean more or less the same thing. The facts show otherwise. Alzheimer’s disease is a specific form of dementia, which is a term meaning “progressive brain dysfunction.” Dementia involves a loss of mental abilities that can eventually lead to a restriction of common activities. However, just because a person is experiencing symptoms of dementia, or even has some diagnosed form of dementia, does not mean they are insane.

In fact, the term of insanity is a very general and careless one that could imply anything from mental derangement, to willful foolishness, to psychopathic thinking. It’s important in discussing mental illnesses and medical conditions to get only the facts, so as not to spread more misinformation.

Symptoms of dementia are not diagnosed the same as psychosis or delirium. Psychosis is a distorted sense of reality, while delirium involves brief states of mental confusion strongly associated with hallucinations. Forms of severe depression and even mental retardation have also been wrongly associated with dementia. Mental retardation involves impaired intellectual ability, a conditioning stemming back from a person’s childhood. Depression is defined by a pessimistic sense of inadequacy and a despondent lack of activity.

Dementia, on the other hand, is closely related to changes in brain function that affect a person’s memory, personality and behavior. These changes are severe enough to affect a person’s ability to interact socially and accomplish daily routines.

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