According to the World Health Organization, there are 55 million people in the world that suffer from dementia. There are a number of different injuries and diseases that can lead to dementia, including a stroke or Alzheimer’s disease.
This syndrome leads to a decline in an individual’s cognitive function that is far beyond what would be expected from the natural aging process. It has an impact on a person’s thinking, memory, comprehension, language, and more.
There is no cure for the syndrome at this time. Therefore, dementia treatment focuses on improving and supporting the lives of those who suffer from the disease.
Are you interested in learning more about the different types of dementia? Let’s take a look at what you need to know.
Alzheimer’s Disease
The most common type of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, somewhere between sixty and eighty percent of dementia cases are caused by Alzheimer’s.
Some of the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease include difficulty finding the right word, poor judgment, and short-term memory loss.
People who are living with dementia might often benefit from secure memory care. This is a time of dementia care that creates a structured and safe environment for people living with memory impairment issues.
Parkinson’s Disease
It is common for individuals with advanced Parkinson’s disease to develop dementia. Some of the early signs of dementia linked to Parkinson’s disease include issues with judgment and reasoning.
With this form of dementia, physical symptoms are typically apparent for at least a year before an individual develops cognitive changes. Some of the physical symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include tremors, stiffness, slow movement,s and balance issues.
Dementia that accompanies Parkinson’s disease often develops slowly over time. It can become more common as the disease progresses for individuals to experience confusion and hallucinations.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
One of the rarest known forms of dementia is Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. This is a disease that progresses very quickly. Those that are diagnosed with this disease often die within one year of having been diagnosed.
The initial signs of this disease often include mood changes, withdrawal, and depression. The difficulties with memory develop as the disease progresses, along with problems in physical coordination and behavior. Psychosis and hallucinations can develop in the later stages.
Mixed Dementia
Sometimes, individuals will experience more than one type of dementia. One of the most common types of dementia combinations is Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.
Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
A lack of vitamin B-1 can cause a brain disorder known as Wernicke disease. This disease has a number of associated physical symptoms such as loss of muscle coordination and double vision.
If left untreated, these physical symptoms start to go away. However, symptoms for another disorder, known as Korsakoff syndrome, begin emerging.
Korsakoff syndrome is caused by advanced Wernicke’s disease. It is a memory disorder with symptoms including problems learning new skills and remembering things.
Frontotemporal Dementia
There are several types of dementia that fall under the umbrella term of frontotemporal dementia. All of these different types of dementia impact the side and front portions of the brain. These are the parts of the brain that control behavior and language.
You might also hear this disease referred to as Pick’s disease.
Dementia With Lewy Bodies
Lewy body dementia or dementia with Lewy bodies is a disease that causes disorientation and memory loss. It is caused by nerve cells having protein deposits in them.
Individuals that suffer from this form of dementia often fall asleep during the day or have difficulty falling asleep at night. They can also experience visual hallucinations.
Vascular Dementia
Vascular dementia is the second most prevalent form of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease. The symptoms of this disease can come on suddenly or appear gradually, depending on the cause. A lack of blood flow to the brain causes this disease, which can be related to a stroke or atherosclerotic disease, or the aging process.
Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
With this disease, excess fluid is built up in the ventricles of the brain. These ventricles are there to help cushion the spinal cord and brain. When there is an improper amount of fluid in these ventricles, they cannot function properly.
When there is too much fluid, there is additional pressure placed on the brain. This can lead to the emergence of the symptoms of dementia.
Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus can be caused by a number of different factors, such as a brain tumor, infection, or injury. Sometimes, though, doctors are unaware of the cause.
Huntington’s Disease
Huntington’s disease comes in two different forms. These are known as juvenile and adult-onset Huntington’s disease.
This disease causes dementia and is genetic. When a person has this disease, their brain’s nerve cells start to break down prematurely.
The initial symptoms of Huntington’s disease involve mood changes and involuntary physical movements. Additional early symptoms include poor decision-making skills and memory loss.
Other Forms of Dementia
Dementia can be caused by a wide variety of diseases in their later stages. For instance, a person who has HIV can develop dementia and cognitive impairment. This is also true of individuals with multiple sclerosis.
Understanding the Different Types of Dementia
The appropriate treatment for an individual with dementia will depend on the underlying disease. There are many different types of cognitive impairment that fall under the label of dementia. However, it is ideal to catch the early signs of dementia and the associated disease in order to promote optimal and early management.
Did you find this article about the different types of dementia useful? If so, be sure to check out the rest of our blog!
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