Understanding and Treating Different Types of Dementia

Dementia encompasses a range of conditions that lead to a decline in abilities. This decline impedes an individual's capacity to think, remember, and reason making it challenging for them to carry out tasks without assistance.

The effects of dementia extend beyond the individuals themselves. Impact their families, communities, and society as a whole. These effects manifest in ways such, as physical, emotional, financial, and ethical challenges.

Scroll down to understand the types of Dementia and what treatments are available.

Types of Dementia

Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer's is one of the most common types of dementia, accounting for more than 60% -70% of all cases. One of the early symptoms of Alzheimer’s is memory lapse from recent events. These symptoms are often accompanied by anxiety, confusion, and agitation.

As the disease progresses into the later stage the symptoms become more severe and the person may manifest increased difficulty in walking, communicating, eating, and may even become violent.

Vascular Dementia

Vascular Dementia also known as multi-infarct dementia is another form of dementia induced by progressive loss of brain function caused by reduced flow of blood to the brain over a long period of time, typically due to a series of strokes that block an artery in your brain.

Symptoms of this disease vary depending on which region of the brain is damaged. However, the most common symptoms are speed of thinking and problem-solving.

Lewy Body Dementia

Lewy Body Dementia is a neurological condition that brings unpredictable changes in one’s thinking and visual perception. The condition causes a decline in mental ability that gets worse over time.  Characterized by the protein deposits buildup in the brain known as Lewy body, the condition poses a distinctive set of difficulties, for both individuals and their families.

Some of the common symptoms include difficulties with movement, trouble with sleep, cognitive problems, depression, and poor regulation of body functions.

Frontotemporal Dementia

Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) is an illness that influences how someone behaves and communicates. It falls under the category of dementia and specifically affects the temporal regions of the brain.

FTD is considered a rare disease and when compared to other forms of dementia it primarily affects individuals at a younger age. Over 60% of reported FTD cases occur in individuals aged between 45 and 64. Symptoms of FTD include behavior change, language problems, problems with mental abilities, and memory loss.

Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson's Disease is a class of dementia caused by the gradual loss of an important chemical called dopamine and by the buildup of a protein called alpha-synuclein in the brain. The Substantia nigra is part of the brain that produces dopamine and as we age the cells in the Substantia nigra die, this process happens at a very slow rate. 

However, in some cases, the process happens at a faster rate thus the start of Parkinson’s disease. Some of the common symptoms are tremors, slow movement, rigid muscles, loss of movement, and speech and writing changes.

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus or NPH is a condition where fluid called cerebrospinal Fluid buildup abnormally in the brain’s cavity (ventricles), causing the ventricles to enlarge, however, the pressure within the skull remains somewhat in normal range. Though NPH can happen to anyone at any age, however, it is commonly seen in elderly people. 

Some of the symptoms of NPH are memory loss, mobility issues, and bladder woes.

Huntington’s Disease

This disease is a rare disease that causes a breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. The disease can occur at any age, however, it generally starts when one reaches in their 30s and 40s.  

The symptoms of Huntington’s disease may vary from person to person, but a few general symptoms may include cognitive, movement, dystonia, impaired posture, and balance.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease or CJD is a rare disease that impacts the brain and leads to dementia. CJD belongs to a disease known as Prion disorder which can affect both humans and animals.

A person suffering from CJD develops symptoms similar to those of Alzheimer’s, however, CJD is considered among the most fatal neurological disorders. Some of the most common symptoms of this disease include personality change, memory loss, insomnia, blurry vision, etc.

Hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus is quite similar to Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) wherein cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) gets accumulated in the ventricles of the brain. Hydrocephalus occurs when there is an imbalance between the amount of CSF produced and absorbed.

Unlike NPH, Hydrocephalus augments pressure on the brain. The symptoms of hydrocephalus are headache, nausea, vomiting, cognitive difficulties, blurred vision, etc. 

Mixed Dementia

As the name suggests, Mixed Dementia is a condition wherein a person has more than one form of Dementia. While mixed dementia can result from any combination of types of dementia, the most common pairing involves Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia.

Symptoms of Mixed Dementia include personality-mood change, memory issues, difficulty with daily tasks, difficulty finding the right words, etc.