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Dementia Types

Dementia types are varied with over 60 different types of dementia. Some forms of dementia are reversible such as those caused by specific infections (an example would be encephalitis), while others are irreversible, such as Alzheimer’s disease.

The most commonly seen dementias are:

• Alzheimer’s Disease

• Vascular Dementia

• Lewy Body dementia

• Frontotemporal dementia

Frequency Of Dementia Types

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia and is seen in over half of all cases of dementia. Vascular dementia is noted in about 40% of persons presenting dementia symptoms. Lewy Body dementia is the next most frequently seen, followed by Frontotemporal dementia, with the specific frequencies of each not quite known.

One thing to note is that each dementia type can be assessed by health professionals but only autopsy results can offer full confirmation of the type of dementia that a person may suffer from. This lack of clear, diagnostic information is what makes the frequency categories so variable. The industry does continue to grow in this area with PET scans and MRI’s at times being used during the initial assessment process.

Most Common Dementia Type: Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease was first discovered by a German physician in 1906 when he observed unusual symptoms in one of his patients: memory loss, suspicion of her husband having an extramarital affair, problems speaking and issues understanding or communicating with others.

Facts About Alzheimer’s disease

• 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s Disease

• It is a progressive, fatal disease

• Is the most common form of dementia

• Cause is the destruction of brain cells

• Now is the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S.

The Ten Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s disease (from the Alzheimer’s Association):

1. Memory loss

2. Difficulty performing tasks

3. Problems with language

4. Disorientation to time and place

5. Poor or decreased judgment

6. Problems with abstract thinking

7. Misplacing things

8. Change in mood or behavior

9. Personality changes

10. Loss of initiation

Causes – Alzheimer’s disease

• Brain cells or nerve connections in the brain become damaged by plaques and tangles

• Messages cannot be transmitted effectively between nerve cells, resulting in problems

• Plaques are protein deposits that accumulate between nerve cells and are called, “beta-amyloid”.

• Tangles are created inside nerve cells that have been destroyed.

Potential Risks – Alzheimer’s disease

• Age is a major risk factor, with people at age 65 having a 1 in 10 chance of developing Alzheimers’ disease yet by age 85, the chance rises to 1 in 3 chances.

• Head injuries may also be related to Alzheimer’s disease.

• Poor general health may also be a contributing factor.

• Family history may also play a part. If there is one or more family members who had the disease, there is 2 to 3 times more chance of a person developing it.

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