With over 16 years of experience in the assisted living industry, Eric Collett serves as the Principal and CEO of A Mind for All Seasons. He founded the company with a mission to transform the way people understand and connect with individuals living with dementia, particularly those affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Leveraging The Enhance Protocol, Eric and his team empower assisted living providers to shift from simply managing decline to becoming proactive treatment centers that improve residents’ health and champion community-wide prevention efforts.

In addition to leading his company, Eric is a nationally recognized speaker, delivering impactful presentations on dementia, behavior management, and brain science. As a sought-after consultant, educator, and brain health expert, he works with diverse audiences to bridge gaps in understanding and promote practical strategies for enhancing cognitive well-being.

Can you explain the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease?

Dementia comes from de- (reduce) and mens (mind), meaning reduced mentation. It’s a broad term for cognitive decline that affects self-care, but symptoms vary.

One person might struggle with finances or forget multiple grocery trips, while another in advanced stages may lose the ability to dress, bathe, or swallow. Dementia doesn’t specify the cause—there are hundreds of types, with Alzheimer’s responsible for about 70% of cases.

It’s like how all squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares. Not everyone with dementia has Alzheimer’s, and every journey looks different.

What are some common misconceptions that you hear about dementia and Alzheimer’s?

Alzheimer’s disease is named after a German physician, Dr. Alois Alzheimer. But people often say old-timers or Alzheimer’s, which is where misconceptions begin.

A few years ago, I was teaching a graduate course at Boise State University and would ask students, What’s your understanding of Alzheimer’s versus dementia? Their answers varied—some thought Alzheimer’s turns into dementia, others thought it was the other way around. Someone would say, Isn’t dementia just being pleasantly confused, while Alzheimer’s means anger, hallucinations, and tearing the house apart?

It was a real reflection of how misunderstood these terms are in the general population.

How are the different types of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease diagnosed? How does it start?

With Alzheimer’s disease, most would say it can only be confirmed on autopsy. But these days, imaging can help—an FDG PET scan shows how the brain uses sugar, revealing metabolic changes early on. Cerebral spinal fluid can show elevated proteins, and MRI scans can measure brain structure volume changes. Recognizing progression patterns also helps, and a thorough clinician can usually make a pretty accurate diagnosis.

However, most doctors—especially family physicians—rely on dementia screening tests like the Mini-Mental State Exam or the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, both 30-point tests. They’re not a fine-tooth comb, just basic screeners to determine if someone meets dementia criteria. Often, they’ll diagnose dementia, likely of the Alzheimer’s type.