Alzheimer’s vs dementia: what’s the difference?

Dementia is the name for a group of symptoms, such as memory loss, confusion and difficulty with everyday tasks, caused by damage to the brain. Alzheimer’s disease is one of the conditions that causes that damage, and it is the most common one in the UK. So everyone with Alzheimer’s has dementia, but not everyone with dementia has Alzheimer’s.

In short

• Dementia is the umbrella term; Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies and frontotemporal dementia are types underneath it.
• The NHS estimates more than 944,000 people in the UK have dementia, about 1 in 11 people over 65.
• Diagnosis starts with the GP, who rules out other causes, then refers to a memory clinic or specialist to confirm dementia and identify the type.
• Alzheimer’s-specific medicines (donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine and memantine) are only prescribed once the type is known.
• A diagnosis supports claims for Attendance Allowance (£76.70 or £114.60 a week in 2026/27) and can lead to a council tax discount or exemption for “severe mental impairment”.

Dementia and Alzheimer’s compared

A useful comparison is “heart disease” and “heart attack”. One is a broad description; the other is a specific cause with its own pattern. Dementia tells you what is happening to someone’s thinking. The type tells you why, and that shapes treatment and planning.

Our guide to the types of dementia compares each one in more detail, including mixed and young-onset dementia.

Why people mix the two up

Doctors and families often use the words loosely. A GP might say “it looks like dementia” before the type is known. Older relatives may say “Alzheimer’s” to mean any memory problem. And because Alzheimer’s is the most common cause, most people with dementia who have been told their type have heard that word.

The distinction matters for three reasons. Medicines differ by type, and some can make other types worse. Care needs differ, for example falls and hallucinations are more prominent in Lewy body dementia. And the outlook differs, which affects planning; see dementia life expectancy by type and stage.

How dementia is diagnosed on the NHS

The NHS says there is no single test for dementia. Diagnosis builds up from several assessments, usually in this order.

1. GP appointment. Book a standard appointment and, if you can, go with your parent. The GP asks about symptoms and whether they struggle with personal care, cooking, shopping or paying bills. Someone who knows them well can describe changes they would not mention themselves. If your parent refuses to go, our guide to dementia and refusing help has ideas.
2. Ruling out other causes. The GP looks for problems that can mimic dementia: depression, anxiety, an underactive thyroid, vitamin deficiencies, medicine side effects and delirium from an infection. Blood tests usually check liver, kidney and thyroid function, HbA1c for diabetes, and vitamin B12 and folate. A urine test may be done if infection is suspected.
3. A short memory test. GPs often use a pen-and-paper test such as the GPCOG. It cannot diagnose dementia alone, and a good score does not rule it out.
4. Referral to a specialist. If other causes are ruled out, the GP refers to an old-age psychiatrist, geriatrician or neurologist, often working in a memory clinic or memory assessment service. NICE says a person should be referred if dementia is still suspected after reversible causes have been excluded.
5. Scans and further tests. An MRI scan is recommended to help confirm dementia and its type; CT may be used to check for stroke or tumour. SPECT or PET scans are used only if results are unclear. Not everyone needs a scan.
6. The diagnosis appointment. You should be told the diagnosis and type, or that the type will be reassessed later, plus information about treatment, local support and who will coordinate care.

Delay is common. The NHS cites an Alzheimer’s Society finding that 1 in 4 people wait two years before seeking help. If you are unsure whether what you are seeing is dementia, read the early signs of dementia and keep a short diary of examples to take to the GP.

Mistakes to avoid

• Waiting for things to “get bad enough”. Earlier diagnosis gives more time to plan while your parent can still take part in decisions.
• Ignoring sudden confusion. A rapid change over hours or days is usually delirium, not dementia, and needs urgent medical help. See delirium and UTIs in older people.
• Leaving without a named contact. NICE says people diagnosed with dementia should have a single named health or social care professional coordinating their care. Ask who that is.

What a diagnosis unlocks

A diagnosis does not by itself entitle anyone to money or services, which are based on needs. But it is strong evidence, and some help is linked directly to it.

Treatment and support

Alzheimer’s medicines are prescribed by or with a specialist. The newer antibody drugs lecanemab and donanemab are not routinely available on the NHS while NICE continues its review. Memory services may also offer cognitive stimulation therapy, and carers may be offered NICE-recommended training in understanding dementia and managing symptoms.

Benefits

• Attendance Allowance (State Pension age and over): £76.70 a week for help by day or night, £114.60 for both. Not means-tested. See our Attendance Allowance guide.
• PIP (under State Pension age): daily living £76.70 or £114.60 a week; mobility £30.30 or £80.00.
• Carer’s Allowance: £86.45 a week for someone caring 35 hours or more who earns no more than £204 a week after allowable deductions, if the person cared for gets a qualifying benefit.
• Pension Credit: getting Attendance Allowance can add a severe disability addition of £86.05 a week in some circumstances, and can lift someone into entitlement.

Council tax: the severe mental impairment disregard

This is one of the most under-claimed forms of help. A person counts as “severely mentally impaired” for council tax if they have a severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning that appears to be permanent. Dementia, including Alzheimer’s, is a common reason. Two things are needed:

• a certificate from a medical professional, usually the GP, confirming the impairment; and
• entitlement to a qualifying benefit, such as Attendance Allowance, the daily living part of PIP, the middle or higher care rate of Disability Living Allowance, or Universal Credit with a limited capability for work element. The exact list is on your council’s website.

GOV.UK sets out what follows:

• If the person lives alone, or the only other adults are also severely mentally impaired or full-time students, the bill is reduced by 100%.
• If they live with one other adult, that person is treated as living alone and gets a 25% discount.
• If everyone else in the household is also “disregarded”, the discount is 50%.

Example: Mum, 82, lives alone with Alzheimer’s and receives Attendance Allowance. With a GP certificate, her council tax falls to nil. Dad, 79, lives with his wife who has vascular dementia and gets Attendance Allowance. She is disregarded, so he pays as a single occupier with 25% off. Ask the council whether the discount can be backdated.

When someone moves permanently into a care home, their empty home is usually exempt from council tax under a separate exemption (often called Class E). Low-income households can also claim Council Tax Reduction; see council tax reduction and Attendance Allowance.

Care, carers and legal planning

• Care needs assessment. Free from the council under the Care Act 2014; it can lead to home care, equipment or day services.
• Carer’s assessment. The person doing the caring has a separate right to be assessed; see our carer’s assessment guide.
• Lasting Power of Attorney. Make one while your parent still has capacity; see LPA or deputyship.
• Driving. The DVLA and the insurer must be told promptly. A diagnosis does not always mean stopping at once; see dementia and driving.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Disability benefits work differently in Scotland, where Pension Age Disability Payment and Adult Disability Payment have replaced Attendance Allowance and PIP for new claims. Wales uses council tax rules similar to England’s, with its own discounts. Northern Ireland has rates rather than council tax. Check the details with the relevant council or Social Security Scotland.

Frequently asked questions

Is Alzheimer’s the same as dementia?

No. Dementia is the umbrella term for symptoms like memory loss, confusion and changes in thinking caused by brain damage. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. Others include vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies and frontotemporal dementia. Everyone with Alzheimer’s has dementia, but not everyone with dementia has Alzheimer’s.

Which is worse, Alzheimer’s or dementia?

Neither is worse, because Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia rather than a separate condition. How serious dementia is depends on the type, the stage and the person’s other health. Alzheimer’s usually progresses gradually over years, while vascular dementia can worsen in sudden steps, and Lewy body dementia brings more falls and hallucinations.

How do I get a dementia diagnosis on the NHS?

Start with a GP appointment, ideally with someone who knows the person well. The GP takes a history, does a short memory test and orders blood and urine tests to rule out other causes. If dementia is still suspected, they refer to a memory clinic or specialist, who may arrange an MRI scan to confirm the type.

Does dementia count as severe mental impairment for council tax?

It can. Councils treat a person as severely mentally impaired if they have a permanent severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning, and dementia is a common reason. You need a GP certificate and a qualifying benefit such as Attendance Allowance. Someone who lives alone then pays no council tax; a carer living with them gets 25% off.

Do you need a diagnosis to claim Attendance Allowance?

No. Attendance Allowance is based on care needs, not diagnosis. Someone over State Pension age who needs help or supervision because of memory problems can claim £76.70 or £114.60 a week in 2026/27. A diagnosis and a letter from the memory clinic make the claim easier to evidence, so include them if you have them.

Can you have dementia without Alzheimer’s?

Yes. Vascular dementia, caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, is the second most common type and affects around 180,000 people in the UK, according to the NHS. Dementia with Lewy bodies and frontotemporal dementia are other types that are not Alzheimer’s. Some people have mixed dementia, with more than one cause.

Sources

• NHS: How to get a dementia diagnosis
• NHS: Tests for diagnosing dementia
• NHS: Alzheimer’s disease treatment
• NHS: What to do if you’ve just been diagnosed with dementia
• NICE NG97: Dementia assessment, management and support
• GOV.UK: Council Tax discounts for disabled people
• GOV.UK: Attendance Allowance

General information, not legal or financial advice. Figures for 2026/27, checked October 2026.

Reviewed by The Care Panel team on 29 October 2026. This guide is general information about care in England, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules and rates change; check with your council or an adviser before making decisions.