What is the difference between dementia and alzheimer?

Dem. is generic term: Dementia is a generic term for a pattern of decline in cognitive and behavioral functioning over time. Alzheimer's disease is one specific type of a dementing illness - and although the progression of the illness and the specific pattern of deficits may point toward alz's dze as the diagnosis, the definitive diagnosis of alz's dze is only made at autopsy, by the examination of brain tissue.

Dementia is syndrome: Dementia can be caused by many conditions, of which alzheimer's disease is the most common.