Some level of cognitive decline in terms of people’s memory, ability to multitask, and speed of thought is normal and expected. Unfortunately, for a percentage of the population, these declines prove far more acute. In the U.S., approximately 7 million people suffer from some form of dementia.
Of course, even the term dementia is a catch-all term for a large number of distinct diseases, syndromes, and conditions. If you’re looking for more information on the different types of dementia, keep reading for our guide to major types of dementia.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease accounts for the vast majority of dementia patients with upwards of 80 percent of all dementia patients suffering from it. Alzheimer’s has several common symptoms, including memory loss of recent events, confusion, and difficulty with learning and communication.
The disease is chronic and degenerative, meaning it gets worse over time. It causes brain cell death.
Many Alzheimer’s patients also display depression, but it’s not a symptom. At present, Alzheimer’s is incurable, although some dementia treatment options exist for it.
Vascular Dementia
Vascular dementia is the next most common form of dementia. The main cause of vascular dementia is reduced blood flow to the brain. That reduced blood flow can come about from several sources, such as strokes, heart attacks, and cardiovascular diseases.
Symptoms of vascular dementia include:
- Memory loss
- Struggles with learning
- Behavioral changes
- Communication problems
- Vision problems
- Hallucinations
Dementia treatment for vascular dementia typically tries to address the underlying cause, such as cardiovascular disease, or prevent another incident, such as blood thinners to prevent strokes.
Lewy Body Dementia
Lewy Body dementia happens when alpha-synuclein proteins build up in the brain. These protein deposits alter the chemicals and chemical signals that the brain uses.
Symptoms include:
- Disorientation
- Memory loss
- Hallucinations
- Changes in sleep cycles
- Variable concentration and clarity
Treatments for Lewy Body Dementia include medications for symptoms, counseling, and even physical therapy.
Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s Disease dementia is a kind of Lewy Body dementia. In addition to the cognitive and behavioral changes typical of Lewy Body dementia, Parkinson’s patients also face symptoms like tremors, muscle rigidity, and paranoia.
Frontotemporal Dementia
Frontotemporal dementia is another umbrella term for several dementias. The binding factor for all of them is changes in the frontal portion of the brain or the sides of the brain. The causes remain unknown.
Symptoms include:
- Loss of inhibition
- Loss of motivation
- Speech problems
- Compulsive behavior
People suffering from this type of dementia often forget what common words mean. Treatment options are very limited. Some antipsychotic and antidepressant medications, along with speech therapy, can help with symptoms.
Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome isn’t technically dementia, but it’s typically included with dementia due to the similarities in symptoms. The main cause for it is a severe lack of Vitamin B1, which triggers bleeding in parts of the brain. Severe alcoholism is often a contributing factor.
Symptoms include:
- Double vision
- Memory loss
- Difficulty learning
- Muscle coordination decline
Treatment options include B1 supplements, IV fluids, proper nutrition, medications, and alcohol use disorder treatment, where appropriate.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
CJD is an exceptionally rare form of dementia that progresses very rapidly. Symptoms include:
- Agitation
- Confusion
- Memory loss
- Twitching
- Insomnia
- Personality changes
There is no cure and treatments aim at symptom reduction through antidepressants and pain medications.
Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
Normal pressure hydrocephalus happens when excess fluids build up in the brain. Specifically, the fluid accumulates in a part of the brain called the ventricles. While the brain and spine rely on these fluids to provide some cushioning, the balance is delicate.
Once the fluids build up, they can cause damage that triggers a variety of dementia-like symptoms, such as:
- Loss of balance
- Altered moods
- Depression
- Memory loss
- Speech problems
The main treatment option is a surgical procedure to insert a shunt into a ventricle. The shunt allows the excess fluid to drain.
Mixed Dementia
Mixed dementia isn’t a separate kind of dementia. You see mixed dementia when a person suffers from more than one kind of dementia at one time. For example, a person might suffer from both Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia from cardiovascular disease.
The symptoms will vary based on which kinds of dementia the person suffers from, but will likely include:
- Memory loss
- Behavioral changes
- Depression
- Confusion
- Sleep pattern changes
Again, there is no specific treatment for mixed dementia. A doctor will treat based on the different options available for each kind of dementia, assuming the treatments won’t interfere with one another.
Huntington’s Disease
Huntington’s is a degenerative condition that damages nerve cells in the brain. Dementia is one of the symptoms of the disease. Other symptoms include:
- Motor function degeneration
- Impulse control issues
- Difficulty learning
- Difficulty communicating
Treatments mostly focus on reducing physical symptoms with medication.
Living with Dementia
Living with dementia is difficult for both the person suffering from dementia and that person’s loved ones. For the dementia sufferer, things often seem confusing and that creates agitation and stress.
For loved ones, the symptoms typically get worse over time. That makes managing everything increasingly difficult, while also adding to the emotional strain of the situation.
Many dementia sufferers live at home with loved ones for a time. At some point, though, a lot of families decide to move their loved ones into a community that can offer dementia-specific approaches, such as memory care. For an example of this type of community, go to dimensionsliving.com.
The Different Types of Dementia and You
With so many different types of dementia, it’s often challenging to understand what’s happening with your loved one. Some dementia happens for no known reason, while other kinds happen because of protein buildup.
While some symptoms remain consistent, like memory loss and behavioral changes, other symptoms vary wildly. Some dementia sufferers become depressed and despondent while others grow angry.
Living with dementia poses numerous challenges. Talk extensively with your loved one’s doctor for advice about creating a stable environment and medication management.
Looking for more about dementia or health in general. Check out the health category in our News section.
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