Q: My great-aunt can tell me long stories about her childhood but can’t remember what day it is. Sometimes she doesn’t recognize me when I first see her. Is it Alzheimer’s or dementia, and what’s the difference anyway? — Rachel J., Skokie, Ill.

A: Memory loss in old age often comes from Alzheimer’s in combination with other forms of dementia, such as multi-infarct dementia — which is triggered by ministrokes — and dementia associated with neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s, or with circulatory problems such as atherosclerosis. Alzheimer’s is implicated in 50 percent of all old-age dementia cases.

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