Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of neurological conditions affecting the brain that get worse over time.
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Transcript
What are the different types of dementia?
As we age, it’s normal to lose some neurons in the brain. People living with dementia, however, experience far greater loss. Many neurons stop working, lose connections with other brain cells, and eventually die. At first, symptoms can be mild, but they get worse over time.
Read on to learn more about four common types of dementia.
[Note: Below is a chart of four columns and five rows that describes what’s happening in the brain, the symptoms, the typical age of diagnosis, diagnosis, and treatment of four types of dementia.]
Types of dementia
Alzheimer’s Disease, Frontotemporal Dementia, Lewy Body Dementia, and Vascular Dementia
What is happening in the brain?
Alzheimer’s disease: Abnormal deposits of proteins form amyloid plaques and tau tangles throughout the brain.
Frontotemporal dementia: Abnormal amounts or forms of tau and TDP-43 proteins accumulate inside neurons in the frontal and temporal lobes.
Lewy body dementia: Abnormal deposits of the alpha-synuclein protein, called “Lewy bodies,” affect the brain’s chemical messengers.
Vascular dementia: Conditions, such as blood clots, disrupt blood flow in the brain.
Note that these changes are just one piece of a complex puzzle that scientists are studying to understand the underlying causes of these forms of dementia and others.
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease
Mild
- Wandering and getting lost
- Repeating questions
Moderate
- Problems recognizing friends and family
- Impulsive behavior
Severe
- Cannot communicate
Symptoms of frontotemporal dementia
Frontal Lobe: Behavioral Symptoms
- Difficulty resisting the impulse to use or touch objects
- Compulsive eating
Temporal Lobe: Language and Emotional Disorders
- Unable to understand the meaning of words or speak properly
- Difficulty understanding facial expression and personal relationships
Symptoms of Lewy body dementia
Cognitive Decline
- Inability to concentrate, pay attention, or stay alert
- Disorganized or illogical ideas
Movement Problems
- Muscle rigidity
- Loss of coordination
- Reduced facial expression
Sleep Disorders
- Insomnia
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
Visual Hallucinations
Symptoms of vascular dementia
- Forgetting current or past events
- Misplacing items
- Trouble following instructions or learning new information
- Hallucination or delusions
- Poor judgment
Typical age of diagnosis for Alzheimer’s disease: Mid-60s and above, with some cases in mid-30s to 60s
Typical age of diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia: Between 45 and 64
Typical age of diagnosis of Lewy body dementia: 50 or older
Typical age of diagnosis of vascular dementia: Over 65
Diagnosis for these four types of dementia
Symptoms can be similar among different types of dementia, and some people have more than one form of dementia, which can make an accurate diagnosis difficult. Symptoms can also vary from person to person. Doctors may ask for a medical history, complete a physical exam, and order neurological and laboratory tests to help diagnose dementia.
Treatment for these four types of dementia
There is currently no cure for these types of dementia, but some treatments are available. Speak with your doctor to find out what might work best for you.
Living with dementia can be challenging, but there are ways to manage it. Learn more about the types of dementia and other conditions that can cause dementia.
