When dementia is diagnosed, it encompasses a variety of brain conditions that impact memory, thinking, and behavior. While the symptoms tend to worsen over time, early detection and treatment can slow progression and improve quality of life. Dementia is not a single disease but a broad term that covers several types, each with its own causes and symptoms.
The Different Categories of Dementia
Dementia is generally classified into three categories: primary, secondary, and reversible. Primary dementia is the main condition affecting the brain, like Alzheimer’s disease. Secondary dementia occurs due to another health issue, such as a stroke. Reversible dementia results from treatable causes, like vitamin deficiencies, and symptoms may improve with proper treatment.
Common Types of Dementia
Alzheimer’s Disease
The most common form, accounting for around 70% of dementia cases, is Alzheimer’s disease. It primarily affects memory and cognitive abilities. Symptoms like memory loss, confusion, and difficulty planning daily activities begin mildly but progressively worsen. The exact cause remains unclear, though a combination of aging, genetics, and environmental factors plays a role.
Vascular Dementia
This type of dementia is caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, often due to strokes or heart disease. Unlike Alzheimer’s, it tends to begin with issues related to planning and decision-making rather than memory problems. Risk factors include high blood pressure and diabetes.
Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB)
Lewy bodies, protein deposits that affect brain function, cause this type of dementia. People with DLB often experience visual hallucinations, sleep disturbances, and difficulty with attention and reasoning.
Parkinson’s Disease Dementia (PDD)
Nearly half of individuals with Parkinson’s disease develop dementia. Symptoms may include memory issues, mood changes, and delusions. Lewy bodies, also present in PDD, overlap with DLB, leading to similar symptoms.
Lesser-Known Types
Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) affects younger people and can lead to drastic personality changes, while Mixed Dementia combines two or more types, like Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia. There’s also Alcohol-Related Dementia, caused by long-term alcohol consumption, and Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, linked to fluid buildup in the brain, which can be surgically treated.
Take Action Early
Recognizing the symptoms early and seeking medical advice is crucial for managing dementia. While the condition can’t be cured, treatments are available to slow its progression.
Source: Jabeen Begum, MD. “Types of Dementia,” WebMD, May 16, 2024.
To learn about Medicare: