I hear that question a lot. Doctors also hear a variation of this confusion. “It looks like dementia,” they might tell a patient, and he or she (or a family member) replies with relief, “Whew! At least it’s not Alzheimer’s!” Alzheimer’s IS dementia. Other things can be dementia, too. Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a group of symptoms and behaviors caused by brain changes that interfere with daily life. Alzheimer's is by far its leading cause. Think of it like