DEMENTIA, But What Kind?

Dementia describes a group of symptoms caused by disorders affecting the brain. There are more than a dozen types, including rare conditions and those that may develop from other brain disorders, like Parkinson’s disease. Here are the five mostdiagnosed forms:

1. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, accounting for up to 70 per cent of all diagnoses, according to the

WHO. Generally, Alzheimer’s affects most areas of the brain and can involve changes in memory, language, problem solving, mood and behaviour.

2. Vascular dementia, the second most common type, happens with a blockage to the brain’s blood supply, which causes brain cells to be deprived of oxygen and die. Strokes and bloodvessel disease are common causes and can affect different brain areas. 3. Lewy body dementia is caused by abnormal deposits of a protein called alphasynuclein inside the brain’s nerve cells. This protein, which destroys brain cells, is also found in people with Parkinson’s. Brain areas involved in thinking, movement and visual processing are most affected.

4. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) mainly affects the frontal and temporal brain areas and accounts for about 20 per cent of cases of early-onset dementia. Changes in personality and behaviour are more apparent in the early stage, while memory decline often doesn’t occur until later.

5. Mixed dementia occurs when a person has at least two types of dementia, most often Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia. Studies reveal it’s much more common than previously thought.